French nuclear fuel cycle company Orano and US-based fusion company Shine Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on the development of a US pilot plant with commercial-scale technology for recycling used nuclear fuel from light-water reactors – potentially leading to a significant reduction in nuclear waste.

The two companies said in a joint statement that the facility could be operational by the early 2030s with site selection scheduled by the end of the year.

They said the recovered nuclear material can be made into new fuel for advanced and existing reactor designs along with using critical radioisotopes for medical and industrial purposes.