US picks potential partners for using Cold War-era plutonium as fuel
The US government has selected five companies to discuss using Cold War-era plutonium as fuel for nuclear reactors. This decision comes after President Trump halted a program aimed at disposing of surplus plutonium. The initiative raises concerns about weapons proliferation and the economic implications of repurposing this material.
- ▪The US Department of Energy announced the selection of five companies, including Oklo, for advanced talks on plutonium utilization.
- ▪Approximately 20 metric tonnes of plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads may be made available to US power companies.
- ▪Senators have expressed concerns that the plutonium could be enough for around 2,000 nuclear bombs, raising proliferation issues.
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Economy|Nuclear EnergyUS picks potential partners for using Cold War-era plutonium as fuelTrump gov’t plans to make about 20 metric tonnes of plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads available to US power firmsListenListen (3 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoUS President Donald Trump has ordered the halt of a programme to dilute and dispose of surplus plutonium, and instead provide it as a fuel for advanced nuclear technologies [File: Kylie Cooper/Reuters]By ReutersPublished On 26 May 202626 May 2026The United States government has chosen five companies, including nuclear energy company Oklo, to enter advanced talks over potentially using its Cold War-era plutonium as a nuclear reactor fuel.The…
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