Framatome to Contribute to Japanese Fast Neutron Reactor Project

On 6 December 2024, Framatome announced the official signing of a cooperation agreement to contribute to Japan’s programme for developing a sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor (SFR) demonstrator.

In July 2023, the Japanese government appointed Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to lead a project to develop a sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor demonstrator. The unit, with a planned capacity of approximately 600 MWe, is expected to be commissioned by 2040.

The agreement signed on 6 December 2024 between Framatome and its Japanese counterparts—Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and Mitsubishi FBR Systems—aims to strengthen Franco-Japanese collaboration in this field. “This demonstrator, with a capacity of approximately 600 MWe, is based on an integrated pool-type sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) architecture already developed and implemented in France. At the request of the Japanese partners, Framatome will provide its expertise and experience with this technology and reactor architecture. This new step builds on the cooperation agreement on sodium-cooled fast reactors signed between French and Japanese authorities,” stated Framatome in its press release.[1]

“This cooperation will contribute to reinforcing and maintaining the skills acquired by Framatome in the field of Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors. This new agreement strengthens the cooperation that began 10 years ago.” said François Billot, Executive Vice President of Framatome Offers & Projects.

To close the nuclear fuel cycle, Japan remains committed to SFR technology. A historic player in the development of this technology, Japan operates a small experimental reactor, Jōyō, which is expected to restart in 2026.■