U.S. Picks 5 Companies for 20 Tons of Cold War Plutonium Fuel Talks
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 26
U.S. Picks 5 Companies for 20 Tons of Cold War Plutonium Fuel Talks
7 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 26
Five companies — Oklo, Exodys Energy, SHINE Technologies, Standard Nuclear and Flibe Energy — were chosen for advanced talks on turning surplus U.S. weapons plutonium into reactor fuel.
The program follows Trump's order last May to halt much of the dilution-and-disposal effort and redirect about 20 metric tons from dismantled warheads into advanced nuclear technologies.
Oklo said it will work with European reactor developer newcleo on fuel development; its shares rose more than 5.5% to $69.51, and the Energy Department said the initiative should help firms attract private funding.
Democratic lawmakers want the plan canceled, arguing the material poses proliferation risks and includes enough plutonium to make about 2,000 atomic bombs.
The plutonium is stored at heavily guarded sites in South Carolina, Texas and New Mexico, and the department did not immediately explain how the material would be handled safely.
Is recycling old warheads the key to America's energy future, or a risky gamble with nuclear security?
With bomb-grade plutonium now in private hands, can international safeguards prevent the creation of new nuclear threats?
Transforming 11.5 Metric Tons: How the U.S. Is Converting Surplus Weapons-Grade Plutonium into Advanced Nuclear Reactor Fuel
Overview
On May 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy made a landmark decision to shift from simply diluting and disposing of surplus weapons-grade plutonium to converting it into fuel for advanced nuclear reactors. This new strategy marks a major change in how the nation manages nuclear waste and secures its future energy supply. Companies like Oklo, known for developing small reactors that use plutonium fuel, are now involved in this effort. By turning a long-standing waste problem into a valuable energy resource, the initiative aims to overcome fuel shortages and accelerate the expansion of nuclear power in the U.S.