U.S. Energy Dept selects firms to turn Cold War plutonium into reactor fuel

The U.S. Energy Department announced it has chosen five companies—Oklo, Exodys Energy, SHINE Technologies, Standard Nuclear and Flibe Energy—to enter advanced discussions on repurposing roughly 20 metric tons of surplus plutonium from dismantled Cold War nuclear warheads into reactor fuel under the Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program. Oklo plans to partner with the European firm newcleo to develop the fuel, which the companies say could serve as “bridge fuel” for advanced nuclear reactors and help attract private investment while reducing U.S. nuclear liabilities. The plutonium, stored at heavily guarded sites in South Carolina, Texas and New Mexico, has a half‑life of about 24,000 years. Democratic lawmakers have warned that the material could be used to manufacture up to 2,000 atomic bombs and have urged the administration to halt the initiative, citing proliferation concerns and a potential conflict of interest for Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who previously sat on Oklo’s board.