SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Oklo invests $1.7bn in nuclear recycling plant in Tennessee

US-based Oklo will build the country’s first privately funded nuclear fuel recycling centre in Oak Ridge, investing $1.7bn and creating over 800 jobs.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90£/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90£/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90£/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 £/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99£/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99£/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 £/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

Nuclear technology company Oklo has announced the selection of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as the location for a spent fuel processing centre representing an investment of nearly $1.7bn. The project will establish the first privately funded nuclear recycling facility in the United States and will create over 800 direct jobs. The selected site, covering 247 acres, is located at the Oak Ridge Heritage Center, a zone historically linked to the US nuclear industry.

A project backed by Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Fund

This initiative falls under the Nuclear Energy Fund, a $50mn support programme included in Tennessee’s 2023–2024 state budget, with an additional $40mn allocated over the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions. Oklo becomes the fifth company to benefit from this scheme, aimed at encouraging the establishment of nuclear firms within the state. The project was also recommended by the Education and Workforce subgroup of the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council, a 22-member body.

Oklo plans to recycle spent fuel from the existing US nuclear fleet to provide a domestic supply of advanced fuels for the next generation of reactors. The goal is to support a long-term industrial ecosystem capable of meeting growing demand from energy-intensive sectors and advanced infrastructure.

Oak Ridge, a historic and strategic nuclear hub

Oak Ridge was selected in part due to its proximity to research institutions such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and its longstanding role in US nuclear development. The site also benefits from a regulatory and institutional environment favourable to advanced industry. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has confirmed its support for the project, which aligns with its efforts to promote technologies needed to expand power infrastructure, particularly for artificial intelligence applications.

Roane County, where the site is located, has undergone extensive environmental remediation in recent years, managed by the Department of Energy (DOE), enabling new industrial development. Local officials expect the project to attract further investment into the regional nuclear corridor.

Expected impacts on employment and the industrial ecosystem

The creation of over 800 skilled positions will be supported by expanded partnerships with Tennessee’s academic institutions, aiming to strengthen local technical capabilities. Oklo’s presence could also drive demand for a domestic supply chain in materials and technology linked to advanced nuclear fuel.

The company stated that its investment is intended to build a complete private-sector fuel recycling, processing, and distribution ecosystem. This approach is expected to contribute to securing strategic fuel supplies for the US nuclear industry over the coming decades.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Dangote refinery forced to suspend gasoline production for several weeks
Tenergie begins construction of 5.14 MWp solar plant in Cabrières d’Avignon
PowerField activates automated FCR service linked to solar and storage
United States clears Rio Grande and Commonwealth LNG toward final decisions
Renaissance Dam could generate $1bn annual revenues for Ethiopia
IAEA: Iran held 440.9 kg at 60% before Israeli strikes
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency puts Iran’s 60% enriched uranium at 440.9 kg before Israeli and U.S. strikes, while the agency’s access to enrichment sites has remained suspended since the operations.
Westinghouse strengthens UK supply chain for nuclear reactors
US-based Westinghouse has signed six industrial agreements in the UK to supply critical components for its AP1000 and AP300 nuclear projects in Britain and abroad.
NANO Nuclear secures $1.25mn contract for KRONOS MMR microreactor
NANO Nuclear Energy receives direct funding from the US Air Force innovation branch to assess the integration of its KRONOS MMRâ„¢ microreactor at the Washington D.C. military base.
EDF extends two nuclear reactors in the United Kingdom until March 2028
EDF extends the operation of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool by one year after favourable safety inspections, ensuring continuity of nuclear production and safeguarding more than 1,000 jobs.
Rosatom prepares new nuclear projects in India and Turkey
Russian nuclear group Rosatom has confirmed advanced discussions with India and Turkey to launch new power plants, including advanced and floating reactor technologies.
Uranium traces detected in Syria at site linked to former Israeli airstrike
The International Atomic Energy Agency has identified uranium particles of industrial origin in samples taken from a Syrian site suspected of hosting an undeclared nuclear reactor.
Norway launches assessment process for two nuclear projects
Norwegian authorities begin the first regulatory phase for two modular nuclear reactor projects, marking a strategic step in the national review of the potential role of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix.
India accelerates its nuclear program to join the global top 5
With eleven reactors under construction and major projects such as Jaitapur, India is preparing a nuclear build-up that could place it among the world’s five leading nations in the sector.
Paris and Berlin agree on an energy roadmap including nuclear power
France and Germany have validated a joint energy roadmap, including a commitment to the non-discrimination of nuclear energy in European financing.
Putin and Pezeshkian to discuss Iranian nuclear program under European pressure
Russia and Iran seek to strengthen their nuclear cooperation as the E3 activates the sanctions mechanism against Tehran, reigniting tensions over compliance with the 2015 Vienna agreement.
Natura Resources secures federal and Texas backing for molten salt reactor
US-based Natura Resources has secured strategic funding and key permits for its MSR-1 nuclear reactor, backed by public funds and enriched fuel allocation from the Department of Energy.
Seoul and Washington open talks on nuclear fuel reprocessing
The United States and South Korea have agreed to initiate discussions on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, marking a potential strategic shift in the long-standing bilateral agreement.
AP1000 reactor certification extended in the US until 2046
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a 40-year extension for the AP1000 reactor design certification, supporting its long-term construction domestically and deployment abroad.
Nano Nuclear partners with Dioxitek to strengthen Argentina’s nuclear supply chain
Nano Nuclear Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dioxitek, Argentina’s only uranium supplier for nuclear fuel, to assess the development of local conversion and enrichment capacities.
Sweden lifts uranium mining ban to revive nuclear industry
Stockholm plans to restart uranium extraction by lifting the 2018 ban, aiming to secure strategic supply chains and support domestic nuclear electricity production.
CEA considers deploying a small Calogena nuclear reactor in Cadarache
The French Atomic Energy Commission has signed a letter of intent with start-up Calogena to study the installation of a 30 MW thermal small nuclear reactor at its Cadarache site.
Guidehouse forecasts $8.1 billion revenues for modular reactors by 2034
A Guidehouse Research report anticipates strong growth in the global nuclear modular reactor market, with revenues rising from $375.8 million in 2025 to $8.1 billion in 2034.
Several South Korean groups back $50bn nuclear projects in the United States
KHNP, Doosan, POSCO and Samsung C&T join US partners to develop 5 GW of modular reactors, expand uranium enrichment and build an 11 GW energy complex in Texas.
Washington activates Defense Production Act to secure enriched uranium
The US Department of Energy is creating an industrial consortium to accelerate domestic enriched uranium production and reduce reliance on foreign imports ahead of the Russian supply ban in 2027.
One of the drones from last weekend’s Ukrainian attack struck the Kursk nuclear power plant
The kamikaze drone damaged an auxiliary transformer at the Kursk plant, halving the output of its only reactor in operation, according to Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.