Thorizon and Urenco to explore cooperation on advanced nuclear fuel cycle
MoU will explore Urenco’s potential role in the molten salt fuel supply chain and how depleted uranium could become a fuel resource for advanced nuclear
Amsterdam, October 8th 2026 - Thorizon, European scale-up developing advanced reactor technology, and Urenco, global supplier of uranium enrichment services and nuclear fuel cycle products, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore cooperation on the fuel cycle for molten salt reactors.
The collaboration brings together two complementary parts of the advanced nuclear ecosystem. Urenco is expanding into advanced fuels for next-generation reactors, including LEU+ and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). Thorizon is developing the Thorizon One, an advanced reactor using molten salt as both fuel and coolant to deliver reliable, carbon-free electricity and industrial heat while making more effective use of nuclear materials.
Together, the companies will explore Urenco’s potential role in Thorizon’s molten salt fuel supply chain, including the supply of enriched uranium towards deployment in the mid-2030s. They will also investigate whether depleted uranium, a by-product of enrichment, could be used as fuel for Thorizon reactors.
Building the fuel cycle for the next generation of reactors
Advanced reactors need new fuels and supply chains. Urenco is investing in advanced fuels, including its Advanced Fuels Facility at Capenhurst in the UK, expected to produce HALEU from 2031. Thorizon will require HALEU in molten salt form for its first Thorizon One reactors targeted for the mid-2030s. The cooperation will explore potential enrichment services from Urenco, its potential role in the molten salt fuel supply chain and opportunities to improve uranium utilization across the fuel cycle.
Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon, said: “Building the fuel supply chain is as critical as developing the reactor itself. Urenco brings decades of expertise in uranium enrichment and is investing now in the advanced fuels Europe’s next generation of reactors will need. Combining these capabilities with innovation in molten salt fuels can help build a strong European fuel cycle for advanced nuclear.”
For Thorizon, the agreement is part of building the industrial ecosystem needed for deployment, bringing together fuel-cycle companies, nuclear operators, research organisations and industrial suppliers.
Making better use of uranium as nuclear demand grows
As global nuclear capacity expands, demand for nuclear fuel is increasing rapidly. As a result, Urenco is growing its enrichment capacity by 4.6 million SWU across its international sites, providing security and diversity of supply for prospective and existing customers. It has further expansion plans should market demand continue to grow.
In addition, using existing nuclear materials in a new, sustainable fashion, could add further value to the provision of fuel . For example, Thorizon’s molten salt technology may be able to utilise depleted uranium as fuel for future reactors. This could extract more value from available uranium resources and contribute to a more efficient nuclear fuel cycle.
Laurent Odeh, Chief Commercial Officer of Urenco adds “Thorizon’s molten salt technology creates an opportunity to utilise HALEU in a different form, and Urenco is at the forefront of advanced fuels’ production in the Western World. Combining innovation in fuels and reactor technology could support the commercial deployment of Thorizon’s reactors and others requiring molten salt solutions.”
About Thorizon
Thorizon, originally a spin-off from NRG, is an ambitious deep-tech scale-up with offices in Amsterdam and Lyon. The company develops small modular molten salt reactors designed to deliver clean, reliable energy at competitive cost. Its walk-away safe reactor operates at low pressure and uses long-lived nuclear waste as fuel, a step toward true circularity in nuclear energy. Thorizon collaborates with industry leaders such as Hyundai Engineering and Construction, Orano, VDL Groep, Tractebel, EPZ and NRG PALLAS. Its project has been selected by the European Commission and the French government under the France 2030 investment plan, and is recognized as a flagship project for Dutch competitiveness in the Wennink report. www.thorizon.com
About Urenco
Urenco is an international supplier of uranium enrichment services, fuel cycle products and related solutions with sustainability at the core of our business. Operating in a pivotal area of the nuclear fuel supply chain for over 50 years, we understand the importance of energy security and facilitate the reliable delivery of low carbon electricity generation for consumers around the world.
With our head office in London, UK, Urenco’s global presence ensures diversity and security of supply for customers through enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Through our technology and the expertise of our people, the Urenco Group provides safe, cost effective and reliable services, operating within a framework of high environmental, social and governance standards, complementing international safeguards.
Urenco is making a positive contribution to global climate change goals through our core business and we are committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
We are committed to continued investment in the responsible management of nuclear materials; innovation activities with clear sustainability benefits, such as nuclear medicine, industrial efficiency and research; and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers. www.urenco.com
For further information about this press release, the participating organizations or the developments behind this project, please contact Coco Polderman at info@thorizon.com or +31 (0)6 2139 0708.
Thorizon is funded by the European Commission, the Dutch Government, the Province of Noord-Brabant and Zeeland, and the French State under the France 2030 plan.
