Oklo, an advanced nuclear technology company, plans to design, build, and operate a fuel recycling facility in Tennessee (United States) as the first phase of a larger advanced fuel center, supported by investments of up to US$1.7bn. The initial phase involves constructing a facility to recycle used nuclear fuel into fuel suitable for fast reactors—a first-of-its-kind project in the United States.
Oklo is also exploring a collaboration with the state power utility Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to recycle TVA’s used nuclear fuel at the new facility, and to assess potential power sales from future Oklo powerhouses in the region to the utility. The recycling facility will recover usable material from spent nuclear fuel and fabricate it into new fuel for advanced reactors. This process is designed to reduce nuclear waste volumes and provide a more cost-effective, and efficient disposal pathway.
Oklo has completed a Licensing Project Plan for the facility with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and is currently engaged in pre-application discussions with the agency.