Orano Awarded Contract to Perform Transfer of Used Nuclear Fuel into Reactor Site’s Existing Vertical Dry Storage Casks

Orano’s reliable pool-to-pad expertise was key to selection for transfer of used nuclear fuel into 14 vertical dry storage systems.

BETHESDA, Md., April 3, 2025 – Orano was awarded a contract by a southern U.S. nuclear energy facility to perform the transfer of used nuclear fuel assemblies from wet storage in holding pools to dry storage in existing onsite vertical cask systems.

This pool-to-pad transfer is scheduled to be completed in early 2025.

“We appreciate this opportunity to showcase our Orano team’s proven pool-to-pad expertise applied to vertical storage cask systems,” said Rebecca Stewart, president of Orano TN Americas. “Orano loading crews have transferred more than 61,600 used nuclear fuel assemblies into horizontal and vertical dry storage at more than 30 U.S. reactor sites without incident and achieved more than 80 consecutive loadings on schedule and on budget.”

“Along with experiencing how our Orano teams deliver on our commitments, we also find that customers value how we do our work and how we strive to exceed expectations,” said Jean-Luc Palayer, president and CEO of Orano USA. “As part of the competitive bid process, we were pleased to provide prior customers’ testimonials highlighting our performance transparency, team approach, and the trust earned in our business performance and relationships.”

The sequential loading of used nuclear fuel assemblies into 14 canisters will occur in the reactors’ storage pools. After removing the moisture, each loaded, sealed canister will be placed inside the site’s reusable vertical transfer cask and moved to the onsite Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). On the ISFSI interim storage pad, the canister will be placed and secured inside a vertical dry storage overpack.

Learn more about Orano’s pool-to-pad services and used fuel management.

Download this press release.