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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Front-end nuclear fuel supply cooperation: Turning allied interdependence into strategic advantage
The global nuclear revival, which is fueled by unprecedented demand for firm, affordable, dispatchable power for artificial intelligence and data center build-out, energy security imperatives, and climate commitments, has exposed a structural reality of the Western fuel cycle: No single allied nation currently possesses the full suite of front-end capabilities. From mining through conversion, enrichment, fabrication, and the emerging deconversion and metallization steps required for reactor fuels, capability is distributed across Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (collectively, the “Sapporo Five”), as well as a small group of close partners.
TopFuel 2022 Light Water Reactor Fuel Performance Conference Plenary SPeaker
Senior Vice President
Fuel Business Unit
Framatome
Ala F. Alzaben was appointed Senior Vice President, Commercial & Customer Center for the Fuel Business Unit, Framatome, effective January 2017. He is responsible for the global commercial operations including sales, marketing, contracts, and services.
Alzaben’s career in the nuclear energy industry spans more than 30 years gaining extensive experience in nuclear fuel, business development and sales. He joined the company in 2003 as Business Development Manager in the Component Replacement & Repair Unit with focus on the growth of the BWR and CANDU product lines.
Alzaben went on to serve as the Sales and Marketing manager with responsibility for fuel fabrication sales and marketing in North America from 2004 through 2008. In October 2008, he was appointed to the position of North America Vice President for Mining & Front End Sales.
Prior to joining the company, Alzaben spent nine years with General Electric (GE) supporting its Fuel joint venture, Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), where he served in a wide range of technical and commercial roles.
From 1990 to 1994, Alzaben worked for ABB/Combustion Engineering (C-E) as technical team leader responsible for ensuring the safety and performance of multiple U.S. nuclear plants.
Alzaben is a graduate of North Carolina State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nuclear engineering. He holds an MBA from Averett University.
Last modified September 6, 2022, 10:19am EDT