Areva has signed an integrated fuel and related services contract with Xcel Energy to supply the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant near Monticello, Minn.

The fuel will be fabricated at the Areva NP plant near Richland. Although new jobs will not be added, the work will help sustain current jobs, said Areva spokesman Michael French.

The approximately $500 million contract covers uranium, conversion, enrichment, fuel design and fabrication, and related engineering services.

Under the agreement, Areva will provide six fuel reloads, which corresponds to a decade of fuel supply, with deliveries beginning in 2015. This will be the first time that Xcel Energy will use Areva fuel in its plants.