Wedoany.com Report-Jul. 13, Newcleo, a Paris-based nuclear technology company, has received approval from the Aube Department council in eastern France to purchase land in the Nogentais area for a mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel manufacturing facility. The site, located in the municipalities of Pont-sur-Seine and Marnay-sur-Seine, will support the production of MOX fuel for Newcleo’s small modular lead-cooled fast reactors, using reprocessed nuclear materials from spent fuel.
A visualisation of the planned MOX facility
The modular MOX facility, with an initial investment of €1.8 billion ($2.1 billion), is designed to scale production as demand grows. The first production line, set for completion by 2030, will involve up to 2,000 workers during construction and create 850 direct jobs. By 2040, an additional €3.2 billion investment could add two more lines, increasing direct employment to 1,700. In June 2022, Newcleo partnered with Orano to conduct feasibility studies for the MOX plant, advancing the project’s development.
In parallel, Newcleo is developing a research and training center in Chusclan, Gard department, southern France, acquired in March 2025, to support its fuel manufacturing efforts. Additionally, the company is advancing a demonstration LFR-AS-30 reactor, with a 30 MWe capacity, planned for Indre-et-Loire in the Chinon Vienne et Loire community in western France. This reactor, targeted for commissioning by 2031, will generate electricity, produce medical isotopes, and support advanced research. Newcleo plans to submit construction authorization applications for both the MOX facility and the demonstration reactor by the end of 2026, viewing them as interconnected projects.
Stefano Buono, Newcleo’s founder and CEO, stated: “France has all the assets to develop a true circular economy in nuclear energy, serving national and European energy sovereignty and industrial competitiveness. By setting up our future fuel manufacturing facility in the Aube, we would demonstrate that fourth-generation nuclear can transform what is today considered waste - spent fuel from other reactors - into a strategic resource for Europe. Our project illustrates our deep belief: through innovation and close collaboration between public and private stakeholders, France can become the leader of an innovative and export-oriented European nuclear sector.”
The Aube project enhances Newcleo’s efforts to create sustainable nuclear energy solutions, leveraging reprocessed materials to fuel advanced reactors. By collaborating with local authorities and investing in regional infrastructure, Newcleo aims to strengthen France’s position in the global nuclear industry while promoting environmental sustainability and economic growth.
