French company Newcleo, a European pioneer in advanced modular nuclear reactor technology, has officially initiated its safeguards-by-design engagement with Euratom, the regulatory body that oversees nuclear safeguards within the European Union.
According to the company, the submission marks a significant step, along with nuclear safety and security progress with national regulators, towards obtaining a nuclear licence in France and positions Newcleo among the first developers of small modular reactors to begin this process with Euratom.
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As mandated by the EURATOM Treaty, engagement with Euratom is essential for nuclear facilities seeking a licence in EU member states. Euratom’s mission includes preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons while promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The safeguards-by-design framework represents one of the three pillars – commonly referred to as the ‘3S’ framework – of nuclear licensing, alongside safety (which ensures protection for people and the environment against radiation and nuclear materials) and security (which focuses on protecting facilities from theft, sabotage or malicious acts). Each pillar undergoes rigorous assessment or oversight by competent authorities, including Euratom.
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The current submission pertains to Newcleo’s proposed lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) facility, which is planned for construction in France, with commissioning activities targeted as early as 2032. Newcleo expects the safeguards review process to span about two years and will run this concurrently with other licensing procedures with French nuclear regulators, including the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection (ASNR). The company aims to incorporate safeguards considerations into the reactor facility’s design as part of its licence application, which is anticipated to be submitted to the Ministry of Environment by the end of 2027.
‘Engaging in the safeguards-by-design stage reflects our enthusiasm and projects’ maturity and requires a profound understanding of our future operations,’ said Stéphane Calpena, Newcleo’s group executive director for licensing affairs. ‘Early collaboration with European and French regulators not only builds our licensing experience but also provides invaluable knowledge that we can leverage in other jurisdictions as we progress with our licensing initiatives worldwide.’
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In tandem with its engagement with Euratom, Newcleo is still actively advancing the national licensing process in France for both its LFR reactor and its advanced fuel fabrication facility. The company has already submitted a comprehensive safety options dossier for the fuel fabrication facility to ASNR, with plans to submit the safety options dossier for its LFR reactor in December 2025.