SHINE Technologies has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Orano to cooperate in the development of the U.S. pilot plant with commercial-scale technology for recycling used nuclear fuel from light water reactors, the company announced recently.

“This agreement for closing the nuclear fuel cycle launches our company’s planned Phase 3 business along our path to ultimately achieving commercialized fusion energy,” SHINE Technologies CEO Greg Piefer said in a statement.

According to a release, this is the first step in creating a cost-effective solution for recycling and reusing used nuclear fuel material.

The goal of the two companies is to have an operational pilot facility by the early 2030s, with site selection completed by the end of this year.

Orano USA supplies advanced reactor services, nuclear fuel materials, used fuel management, decommissioning, decontamination, and radwaste treatment solutions to commercial and federal customers.