Framatome’s nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Richland, Washington, has received approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license amendment allowing the site to manufacture fuel with uranium enrichment levels of up to 10%.
The approval marks a major licensing milestone for Framatome and expands domestic U.S. capacity for advanced reactor fuel. It also supports the accelerated deployment of next-generation nuclear reactors.
The latest decision follows a separate sitewide approval granted last month that allows the facility to manufacture fuel enriched above 5% for the light water reactor market. Together, the two approvals strengthen Framatome’s role in supporting both the existing reactor fleet and future nuclear energy technologies.
Under the new license amendment, the Richland facility is authorized to use its dry conversion process to convert uranium hexafluoride into uranium oxide powder for reactor types requiring enrichment levels higher than those used in existing light water reactors. The approval also supports the fabrication of Tri-Structural Isotropic, or TRISO, fuel.
Framatome said the milestone is significant for its joint venture with Standard Nuclear and will support commitments to deliver fuel on schedule. The approval for enrichment levels of up to 10% also positions the company for future production of high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel types enriched up to 20%. Framatome said the required equipment and systems have already been designed and analyzed, allowing an additional license amendment to move forward quickly.
“This is the latest step in reshaping the nuclear fuel market for the next generation of reactors,” said Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president of Framatome’s Fuel Business Unit. “Built on more than five decades of nuclear fuel manufacturing expertise, this approval uniquely positions us to deliver advanced fuel products to support the future of our industry.”
In 2025, Framatome and Standard Nuclear signed a joint venture agreement focused on bringing competitive TRISO fuel products to market for advanced reactor operators, including small modular reactors and microreactors. The partnership is expected to begin equipment commissioning in the near term and produce metric-ton quantities of TRISO fuel annually.
The license amendment for the Richland facility was submitted to the NRC in September 2024. The site plans to begin manufacturing uranium dioxide powder and TRISO particles in 2027 to meet current demand.
The announcement follows a recent exemplary Licensee Performance Review by the NRC, continuing a 20-year record at the site with no areas identified as needing improvement.
Framatome’s Richland facility has been involved in nuclear fuel manufacturing for more than 55 years and employs more than 600 professionals.
