U.S. DoE selects Oklo, Terrestrial for advanced nuclear fuel line pilot program

The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it has selected Oklo (OKLO), Terrestrial Energy (HOND), TRISO-X LLC, and Valar Atomics Inc. for its new pilot program to build advanced nuclear fuel lines. The action will help strengthen America’s national security, reduce reliance on foreign sources of enriched uranium and support the Department’s Reactor Pilot Program that aims to have at least three reactors achieve criticality by July 4, 2026, the department said. “President Trump has made clear that a strong nuclear sector is a central component of America’s energy security and prosperity,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly. “Restoring a secure domestic fuel supply will ensure that advanced reactors can move quickly from design to deployment and into operation. The ability to produce these fuels is essential to ensuring American leadership in nuclear energy and to meeting the nation’s growing demand for reliable power.” This is the second round of conditional selections under DOE’s Fuel Line Pilot Program. DOE previously selected Standard Nuclear to build and operate TRISO fuel fabrication facilities.