Thorizon and Urenco Formed Advanced Nuclear Partnership
The two companies signed an agreement to explore supply chain solutions for next-generation molten salt reactor fuel.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Nuclear
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Thorizon and Urenco have signed a memorandum of understanding to investigate a strategic partnership regarding the advanced nuclear fuel cycle. The deal aims to integrate Urenco’s enrichment capabilities with the fuel requirements for Thorizon’s molten salt reactor technology.
Why it matters
This collaboration seeks to determine how depleted uranium can be repurposed as a fuel resource for next-generation architectures. By linking enrichment expertise with reactor development, the firms hope to secure the specialized fuel supply needed for emerging nuclear systems.
Thorizon is developing the 100 MWe Thorizon One, which requires high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) enriched up to 20 percent. Urenco is currently constructing an Advanced Fuels Facility at Capenhurst in the UK to begin producing this material by 2031.
The players
Thorizon
This Dutch company is a developer of molten salt reactor technology founded in 2018.
Urenco
This international supplier of nuclear fuel enrichment services is based in the United Kingdom.
The details
The partnership focuses on evaluating Urenco's role in the molten salt reactor fuel supply chain and improving uranium utilization. Both companies will examine logistics for supplying enriched fuel, while leveraging Thorizon's ongoing development of the Thorizon One reactor.
Timeline
Thorizon was founded in 2018.
The company secured 12.5 million euros in seed funding in 2022.
Thorizon won a France 2030 project call in March 2024.
Thorizon raised 20 million euros in Series A funding in March 2025.
Urenco expects to produce HALEU from 2031.
The Big Picture
This collaboration mirrors broader shifts in the nuclear industry toward the commercialization of small modular molten salt reactors. It follows the pattern set by the France 2030 national investment plan, which incentivizes private-sector innovation in next-generation fuel cycles.
This partnership targets the development of fuel for reactors planned for deployment by 2034, aiming to provide a path toward reliable next-generation energy. Successful fuel cycle integration could eventually lower costs for advanced nuclear power production and improve resource efficiency.
The takeaway
This agreement highlights the growing focus on creating specialized fuel supply chains for unconventional reactor designs. Securing these pathways is a critical step for companies attempting to move small modular reactors from the design phase to operational status.
Further reading
For more information on the evolution of molten salt reactor technology, visit the Nuclear section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nuclear Engineering International.
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