Framatome announced that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a licence amendment allowing transport of fresh nuclear fuel assemblies in the US with enrichment up to 8%, using its existing TN-B1 boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel assembly shipping containers. This will enable Framatome to deliver advanced fuel products for light water reactor plant operators.

NRC approval builds on other recent regulatory milestones for Framatome. NRC recently approved Framatome to apply the company’s suite of Advanced Codes and Methods to operating conditions with U-235 enrichments above the industry standard of 5% for pressurised water reactors (PWR). NRC also approved a licence amendment allowing Framatome to transport fresh PWR nuclear fuel assemblies in the with U-235 enrichments up to 8%.

“This is a major step toward our commitment to be reload ready with higher enriched and higher burnup fuel by 2027 for the current nuclear fleet,” said Lionel Gaiffe, Senior Executive Vice President, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. “We appreciate the support from NRC in our initiative to deliver advanced fuel products to the industry, and this regulatory milestone further demonstrates our leadership.”