Thorizon and Hyundai E&C Partner for Molten Salt Reactor Deployment

French-Dutch start-up Thorizon and South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) recently solidified a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Thorizon’s Amsterdam headquarters. This agreement aims to accelerate the global development and deployment of the Thorizon One molten salt reactor (MSR). The partnership combines Thorizon's advanced nuclear technology with Hyundai E&C's extensive Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) experience, specifically targeting commercialization of the Thorizon One design. Jointly, they will advance technical data exchange, design activities, and engage with heavy industrial energy users, with initial focus on Northern European markets like Finland and Sweden. This collaboration is a central pillar of Hyundai E&C's 'Triangular Alliance' for the nuclear market, complementing its existing partnerships for large and small modular reactors.

The Thorizon One technology, a 100 MWe (250 MWt) reactor system, is designed with industrial decarbonisation in mind, operating at temperatures suitable for process heat in sectors like chemical plants and steel manufacturing. Its unique replaceable core cartridge, swapped every 5–10 years, seeks to address common MSR challenges such as material corrosion and spent fuel handling. Furthermore, the design proposes to utilize a fuel mixture of thorium and long-lived radioactive waste from existing nuclear plants, aiming to transform it into shorter-lived waste, potentially offering a new approach to nuclear waste management.

Thorizon envisions beginning construction of the first commercial-scale Thorizon One by 2030, with operations potentially starting in 2032, preceded by a non-commercial Thorizon Pioneer demonstrator. Pre-feasibility studies are underway in the Netherlands, France, and Belgium for initial pilot deployment, with engagement from local nuclear operators and engineering firms. The nuclear safety authorities of France (ASN) and the Netherlands (ANVS) are already conducting a joint preparatory review of the design, indicating an early stage of regulatory engagement, while significant government subsidies from France and the EU underscore ongoing support for these developmental efforts.