Trump admin wants nuclear startups to use plutonium for their reactors
The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking to collaborate with five nuclear startups to utilize surplus plutonium from dismantled nuclear weapons. This initiative aims to power a new generation of nuclear reactors while addressing the long-standing issue of plutonium storage. However, concerns about security and the potential risks associated with using plutonium as fuel have been raised by experts in the field.
- ▪The Department of Energy has selected five nuclear startups to negotiate the use of plutonium for new reactors.
- ▪Oklo, one of the selected startups, is developing a reactor that can use both uranium and plutonium as fuel.
- ▪Security concerns have been highlighted regarding the use of plutonium, which originated from nuclear weapons.
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For decades, the U.S. has had a plutonium problem. Around 100 tons of the stuff was made during the Cold War to go into powerful atomic bombs. But as nuclear stockpiles were dismantled, the government had to store the radioactive material in high-security facilities. Now, it wants startups to help get rid of some of it. The Department of Energy said Tuesday it has selected five nuclear startups to enter into negotiations with the government to receive a portion of the plutonium, which could potentially be used to power a new generation of nuclear reactors. The Department of Energy previously identified 34 tons of plutonium for disposal. The five startups include Oklo, Standard Nuclear, Shine Technologies, Flibe Energy, and Exodys Energy.
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