US strengthens advanced nuclear fuel supply with TRISO and HALEU initiatives

The United States has taken another step toward strengthening its advanced nuclear fuel industry after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved Framatome’s request to manufacture TRISO nuclear fuel at its Richland, Washington, facility. In a separate development, Lightbridge Corporation and Quadrant Nuclear Industries (QNI) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore long-term supplies of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), another fuel expected to play a key role in next-generation reactors. Together, the announcements highlight growing efforts to build the domestic fuel infrastructure needed to support advanced nuclear technologies. NRC clears TRISO fuel production The NRC has approved Framatome’s license amendment request, allowing its Richland facility to increase the uranium enrichment limit from 6.5 percent to less than 10 percent uranium-235 and authorizing the site to manufacture TRISO (tristructural isotropic) fuel. Unlike conventional nuclear fuel, TRISO fuel consists of tiny uranium kernels surrounded by multiple protective layers of carbon and silicon carbide. These layers are designed to retain radioactive fission products even at very high temperatures, making TRISO one of the leading fuel candidates for several advanced reactor designs currently under development. Framatome said the approval enables the facility to use its dry conversion process to produce uranium oxide powder for advanced reactors and supports its joint venture with Standard Nuclear, which aims to begin commercial-scale TRISO fuel production. The Richland site is expected to start manufacturing uranium oxide powder and TRISO particles in 2027, initially producing around two metric tonnes of TRISO fuel annually. Why HALEU is important The NRC approval also supports broader efforts to expand domestic production of HALEU, or high-assay low-enriched uranium. HALEU is enriched beyond the levels typically used in today’s commercial light-water reactors and is considered the preferred fuel for many advanced reactor concepts currently being developed. Framatome noted that the latest approval also positions the company for a future license amendment that could eventually support production of fuel enriched up to 20 percent uranium-235, the upper limit for HALEU. Building the future fuel supply chain In a separate announcement, Lightbridge and QNI signed an MoU establishing a framework to discuss future HALEU supply arrangements. QNI is developing its planned Vanguard facility at Idaho National Laboratory, which is designed to produce up to 19.84 US tons of HALEU annually at full capacity. Under the agreement, the companies will explore long-term cooperation on fuel supply planning, regulatory coordination, logistics, technical requirements, and potential commercial arrangements. The partnership is intended to support the future commercialization of Lightbridge Fuel, the company’s proprietary advanced nuclear fuel technology for existing reactors as well as future small modular reactors (SMRs). While these announcements do not immediately increase fuel production, they represent important building blocks for the advanced nuclear sector. As more next-generation reactors move toward commercial deployment, establishing reliable domestic supplies of specialized fuels such as TRISO and HALEU is expected to become just as important as developing the reactors themselves. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories. His writing covers technology, sustainability, geopolitics, and occasionally fiction. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, his work has appeared in the Times of India and beyond. After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently. Outside work, he juggles far too many projects and passions, but always makes time to read, reflect, and hold onto the thread of wonder.