U.S. Steps Up Pace To Commercialize Domestic Nuclear Fuel Supply

Core Insights - The U.S. government is accelerating the role of the private sector in commercializing nuclear fuel by selecting four companies for a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain pilot program [1][3] - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is advancing private industry production for nuclear fuel, including a draft environmental impact statement for a proposed fuel fabrication facility by TRISO-X LLC [2][4] Company Developments - TRISO-X, a subsidiary of X-energy Reactor Co. LLC, is seeking a special nuclear material license from the NRC for the TX-1 facility, which will be the first High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication facility in the U.S. [3][4] - The TX-1 facility is expected to produce 5 metric tons of uranium, sufficient to power up to 11 Xe-100 reactors, each with an output of 80 megawatts electrical [9][10] Industry Trends - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NRC are collaborating to streamline processes that support the commercialization of nuclear energy, driven by increasing energy demands from sectors like AI and data centers [12] - The push for a strong domestic nuclear sector is part of a broader strategy to enhance energy security and reduce reliance on foreign energy sources [13]