Oklo Plans $1.68B Nuclear Fuel Recycling Facility Tennessee

Oklo Inc. is investing up to $1.68 billion to build the United States' first privately owned nuclear fuel recycling facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, marking a major step in advanced nuclear technology and clean energy innovation. The facility will recycle spent nuclear fuel into metal fuel suitable for fast reactors like Oklo's Aurora powerhouse, potentially reducing nuclear waste volumes and establishing a secure, economical fuel supply. This project is expected to create over 800 jobs and is supported by state and national leaders, including Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which is exploring collaborations to recycle its used fuel and evaluate power sales from future Oklo reactors. Oklo has completed a licensing project plan with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is actively engaged in pre-application discussions, aiming for production by the early 2030s. The recycling process exemplifies a significant opportunity to harness the vast energy potential of used nuclear fuel, estimated to be equivalent to about 1.3 trillion barrels of oil, underscoring the facility's strategic importance in America's nuclear renaissance. Oklo's investment and partnerships position it to play a key role in advancing sustainable, affordable, and reliable clean energy in the U.S.