International nuclear fuel recycling and MOX development

In late July, China and Belgium formalised a framework to build a pilot mixed‑oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication plant in China, involving Chinese state nuclear firm CNNC and Belgian partners Belgonucleaire, SCK‑CEN and Tractebel. The agreement signalled a move toward commercial MOX production and technology transfer, while Europe’s uranium sector revived interest in mining projects in Belarus and Bulgaria.

A few weeks later, U.S. nuclear companies announced collaborative steps to close the domestic fuel cycle. Curio, NuScale Power and Framatome signed an MOU to study how recovered materials from spent fuel can feed new fuel streams, and newcleo submitted a regulatory plan for a lead‑cooled fast reactor and an associated MOX recycling plant. These initiatives aim to create a complete domestic loop for MOX fuel, reduce waste radiotoxicity and lessen reliance on fresh uranium.

Together, the snapshots illustrate a broader, multinational push to develop MOX fuel capabilities and advanced recycling technologies, with parallel projects emerging in China‑Europe cooperation and U.S. private‑sector partnerships.