U.S. Aims to Give Cold War Plutonium to Start-Ups for Nuclear Fuel
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- The Trump administration is advancing a plan to provide Cold War-era plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads to private companies for conversion into nuclear power fuel, marking a first for the U.S. government.
- The Energy Department holds over 50 tons of surplus plutonium and had planned to dilute and bury much of it, but some nuclear start-ups argue that converting it into fuel is a better disposal method.
- Five companies, including California-based Oklo and European developer Newcleo, have been selected for advanced negotiations to receive surplus plutonium to support new nuclear reactor development.
- Using plutonium as fuel could address a critical shortage of conventional uranium fuel for new nuclear plants, potentially accelerating the expansion of nuclear power in the U.S.
- Industry leaders like Oklo’s CEO Jacob DeWitte emphasize that overcoming fuel supply constraints is essential for deploying more nuclear power quickly.