Trump administration wants nuclear startups to use plutonium for their reactors
The U.S. government is seeking to collaborate with nuclear startups to utilize surplus plutonium from dismantled nuclear weapons. The Department of Energy has selected five startups to negotiate the use of this material for new reactor designs. While some view this as a potential solution, there are significant security concerns regarding the handling of plutonium.
- ▪The U.S. has around 100 tons of plutonium from the Cold War that needs to be managed.
- ▪Five nuclear startups have been selected to negotiate for a portion of the plutonium for reactor development.
- ▪Energy Secretary Chris Wright previously served on the board of one of the selected startups, Oklo, but has divested his shares.
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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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