December 6, 2024 – At a signing ceremony in Tokyo, Framatome and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Mitsubishi FBR Systems (MFBR) signed a Design Cooperation Implementation Arrangement for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFR). The agreement marks the beginning of Framatome’s contribution to the new Japanese program for the development of a demonstration SFR.
The ~600 MWe demonstration reactor is based on an integrated SFR architecture (pool-type reactor) already developed and implemented in France. At the request of the Japanese partners, Framatome will provide feedback and design evaluation both on the technology and the architecture of this type of reactor. This new step is part of the cooperation arrangement on SFR signed between the French and Japanese authorities.
François Billot, Executive Vice President Framatome Offers & Projects, declared: "Framatome is proud to be able to share its experience in developing this technology with our Japanese partners. 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.”
From left to right :
- Shinichi KIHARA, Director General for Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
- Vincent BERGER, French High Commissioner for Atomic Energy
- Hidehito MIMAKI, Senior Vice President, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)
- François BILLOT, Executive Vice President, Framatome
- Masanori KOGUCHI, President, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)
- Makoto YAMAGISHI, President, Mitsubishi FBR Systems
- Takashi KIYOURA, Deputy Director General, Research and Development Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)