European nuclear technology company Newcleo and Slovak state-owned nuclear and decommissioning company Javys have signed a shareholder agreement to establish a centre for the development of spent nuclear fuel as plans move ahead to build advanced reactors in Slovakia.

Newcleo said in a statement that the joint venture agreement paves the way for using spent nuclear fuel in its Generation IV reactors.

The agreement follows the signing of framework cooperation agreements with Javys and Slovakian engineering company Vuje in January 2025 for the construction of four of Newcleo’s lead-cooled LFR-AS-200 reactors at the Bohunice nuclear power station site in Slovakia, at a cost of about €3.2bn ($3.6bn).