Europe’s electricity generation can appear deceptively simple from the outside, with power flowing smoothly while the systems that support it remain largely unseen. Nuclear power adds complexity, particularly in fuel decisions, where long‑term supply reviews signal structural rather than short‑term change.
A supply problem hiding behind low‑carbon electricity
Nuclear power relies heavily on fuel; because fuel types cannot be easily substituted, the fuel supplier becomes a crucial part of nuclear operations. For example, according to Fortum, the VVER‑type reactors — currently operating in 19 EU‑member countries — generate anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent of all domestically generated electricity in those countries.
That level of generation — dramatic or not — is significant because it affects the way planners create fuel strategies. As Fortum puts it, the VVER‑type reactors have a large role to play in ensuring the security of supply of low‑carbon electricity in Europe — and this will require more than just technology.
It appears that Fortum views the issue as having both technological and non‑technological aspects. The goal stated in the release is to increase diversity in fuel supplies — to make Europe less dependent upon foreign‑sourced energy. This wording makes it apparent that the fuel strategy is a part of a larger framework for ensuring the security of fuel supply.
Why fuel development proceed in phases
Another reason why nuclear fuel strategy may seem remote to the general public is that the development of nuclear fuels is typically designed to happen slowly. Fortum characterizes the Framatome fuel development process as taking place in phases. During the first phase, the basic design of the fuel will be developed. In the second phase, prototype fuel assemblies will be manufactured and licensed for use in Fortum’s Loviisa reactor.
There is no indication that the timeframe for this work is short‑term. Fortum notes that regular shipments of qualified fuel would begin “in the early 2030s,” emphasizing how long qualification and licensing processes can take in a nuclear environment.
In terms of its supply chain, Fortum has laid out what is expected. It states that the development project is based on a 100% European design and supply chain, with Framatome’s French‑ and German‑based fabrication plants providing the fuel.
Fortum frames this cooperative effort with Framatome as an extension of existing efforts to expand the number of different fuel types available for Loviisa. Fortum states that this partnership is already the second such effort aimed at increasing fuel diversity for Loviisa.
What Fortum and Framatome are now doing
Multiple utilities are now moving down the same development path through Fortum and Framatome’s joint process. Fortum reports that it — along with ČEZ (Czech Republic), MVM Paks (Hungary), and Slovenské elektrárne (Slovakia) — has agreed with Framatome to develop a fully European nuclear fuel for VVER‑type nuclear power plants, including Fortum’s Loviisa plant.
Petra Lundström, Fortum’s Executive Vice President for Nuclear Operations, describes security of energy supply as a strategic priority for the company. She explains that expanding the nuclear fuel value chain strengthens Fortum’s ability to provide reliable electricity and frames the initiative as European cooperation that benefits multiple companies and reinforces energy security across several countries.
In November 2022, Fortum and Westinghouse Electric Company signed an agreement regarding the design, licensing, and delivery of Western‑type fuel for Loviisa. The first shipment of this fuel was introduced into Unit 2 during the 2024 outage period, with additional fuel introduced in subsequent years.
This agreement is noteworthy not for speed, but for direction: it formalizes a long, phased path toward a European‑designed fuel solution while linking multiple utilities to a single development pathway. In nuclear energy — where impacts emerge later, but commitments are made early — that type of coordination represents a significant achievement.
