Newcleo begins NRC regulatory interactions for its lead-cooled SMR and MOX fuel facility

France-based Newcleo has begun early interactions with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the US nuclear regulator, following the submission of a letter of intent on 23 February. These discussions aim to familiarise NRC staff with the proposed facility designs and associated safety approaches, for both the Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (LFR) and the mixed uranium/plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facility. They also support the development of regulatory plans and facilitate NRC resource and budget planning, the company said. Newcleo stated it is pursuing the NRC licences required for the development of the LFR and the fuel fabrication facility, "as well as for the possession, use, and transportation of associated nuclear materials".

A transatlantic partnership with Oklo on advanced fuel

The MOX fuel fabrication facility is part of a strategic partnership announced in October 2025 between Newcleo and Oklo. Oklo is developing its Aurora sodium-cooled fast-reactor powerhouses, while Newcleo is developing lead-cooled small modular reactor (SMR) technology, aiming to use reprocessed nuclear fuel. In October, the two companies signed an agreement to develop advanced fuel fabrication and manufacturing infrastructure in the USA. The move reflects the growing strategic importance of reprocessing, in a context where France is advancing on closing its own nuclear fuel cycle.

"Our early engagement with the NRC enables a structured and transparent dialogue covering both the fuel fabrication and LFR facilities", said Stefano Buono, founder and CEO of Newcleo. "This process is essential to ensure that our future applications are aligned with NRC requirements from the outset." The company said it aims to establish "a clear licensing timeline for its US projects", including the advanced nuclear fuel manufacturing infrastructure planned in partnership with Oklo.

A MOX project rooted in France, with a 2026 deadline

On the industrial side, Newcleo plans to directly invest in a MOX plant to fuel its LFR reactors. The fuel would be produced from nuclear materials recovered through the reprocessing of used fuel. In June 2022, the company contracted France's Orano for feasibility studies on the establishment of a MOX production plant. The global nuclear industry sees 2026 as a pivotal year for advanced technologies, and Newcleo is no exception.

In July last year, the company received a favourable opinion from the council of the Aube Department in eastern France to sell a plot of land in the Nogentais area, which could host the MOX fuel manufacturing facility. Newcleo said at the time it planned to submit construction authorisation applications for both the MOX facility and a demonstration reactor in France by the end of 2026. The regulatory engagement in the United States, combined with land acquisition progress in France, reflects a transatlantic deployment strategy as the SMR sector gains increasing visibility on international markets.