Framatome

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Framatome is a French company that designs, builds, and services nuclear reactors. It is mainly owned by EDF (80.5%) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (19.5%). The company is based in La Défense, near Paris, and operates about 58 locations worldwide with more than 18,000 employees. In 2024, it reported revenue of about €4.67 billion.

Framatome began in 1958 to license Westinghouse pressurized water reactor (PWR) designs for France and helped develop the Chooz plant. Westinghouse sold its stake in 1976 to Creusot-Loire, giving Framatome more independence. Siemens sold its reactor business to Framatome in 2001. After mergers with Cogema (Orano) and Technicatome, the group became Areva NP. In 2018, after EDF invested in the company, it was renamed Framatome again.

Today Framatome covers the full reactor life cycle: design, construction, fuel management, and related services. It develops and supplies European Pressurized Reactors (EPR) and Kerena reactors (a 1,250 MW Gen III+ boiling water reactor). It is involved in major projects such as Flamanville 3 (France), Taishan 1 and 2 (China), and Hinkley Point C (UK). It has also conducted preliminary studies for six reactors at India’s Jaitapur project. Framatome is part of the Atmea joint venture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to market the ATMEA1 reactor design; since 2018, EDF and MHI each hold 50% in Atmea, with Framatome holding a special share.

Framatome faced a major quality issue at its Le Creusot Forge, where forged steel with irregular carbon content was found around 2016. This led to inspections and shutdowns through 2017–2018, with improvements to processes and safety culture.

In 2020, Framatome won an order to supply reactor protection systems for Russia’s Kursk II VVER-TOI reactors.