Bechtel exits TerraPower Natrium nuclear project and announces layoffs

Bechtel has announced its departure from the Natrium Demonstration Project, a high-profile advanced nuclear reactor project led by Bill Gates-backed TerraPower in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The split occurred because the two companies could not reach an agreement on how to proceed to the next phase of the project.

As a result of the separation, Bechtel plans to lay off approximately 200 employees at its nuclear engineering headquarters in Reston, Virginia, with the layoffs expected to take effect around November 16, 2026. The company stated it will attempt to transition many of these workers to other nuclear projects within its global portfolio.

TerraPower confirmed that construction at the Wyoming site will continue as scheduled using existing subcontractor teams and commercial-grade support services. The company is currently in the process of re-bidding the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to find a replacement firm. Bechtel will complete work on a sodium test-and-fill facility before exiting.

Separately, Bechtel Ltd's UK arm reported a £9.7 million pre-tax loss in its latest annual accounts, a significant shift from a £34.8 million profit the previous year. The company attributed the decline in revenue and the move into the red to the completion of several projects and revisions to project estimates.