CCTE and CNL Initiate Fabrication of Thorium-Based ANEEL Fuel for Commercial Reactor Demonstration
CHICAGO, April 16, 2026 — In a significant advancement for nuclear energy technology, Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) have announced a collaborative agreement to manufacture demonstration irradiation (DI) bundles of ANEEL™ fuel. This milestone follows the successful completion of a Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI) project, which provided model verification and validation for the computer codes and analysis methods used in the design and safety analysis of this innovative thorium-based fuel.
Advancing Fuel Performance and Testing
The DI bundles are prototypic, full-scale ANEEL™ fuel bundles that match actual reactor fuel bundles designed for interface and irradiation testing. Manufactured by CNL at the Chalk River Laboratories, these bundles will enable CCTE to conduct demonstration irradiation, providing practical, in-reactor data to support future qualification and potential deployment of ANEEL™ fuel in CANDU reactors and other Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs).
CNL will lead the development, qualification, and manufacturing of ANEEL™ fuel under Canadian Standard Association (CSA) requirements for nuclear fuel production. This initiative aims to deliver a DI that offers additional reassurance to designers, utilities, manufacturers, and regulators regarding acceptable fuel performance, serving as the first example of operational experience for this new fuel design.
Leadership Perspectives
"This milestone advances ANEEL™ from validated models to an engineered, fleet-compatible fuel design," stated Mehul Shah, Founder and CEO of Clean Core Thorium Energy. "The fabrication of reactor-representative bundles with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, followed by CCTE's subsequent irradiation, will position us to generate the performance data necessary to support regulatory review and future fleet deployment. It marks a foundational step toward commercial readiness."
Dr. Monica Regalbuto, Vice-President of Science & Technology at CNL, added, "CNL has maintained core capabilities in fuel research, development, and fabrication, enabling us to take on the manufacturing of novel and next-generation fuels. We are pleased to be working with CCTE and to apply the deep expertise of the labs to this exciting advanced fuel project."
A Comprehensive Development Roadmap
This initiative is a core component of CCTE's broader ANEEL™ fuel development programme, which includes:
- Model Validation: Successful model and analysis method validation at CNL.
- Irradiation Testing: Accelerated burnup qualification at Idaho National Laboratory's Advanced Test Reactor, targeting burnup levels exceeding 60 GWd/t/MTU.
- Regulatory Progress: Completion of a Phase 1 pre-licensing vendor design review with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
The collaboration between CCTE and CNL represents a pivotal step in bringing thorium-based nuclear fuel to market, potentially enhancing the safety and efficiency of commercial reactors worldwide.
