Advanced nuclear technology company Oklo has announced a $1.68 billion investment to establish a fuel recycling facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a project expected to create more than 800 jobs in the nuclear energy sector.
The company, alongside Governor Bill Lee, unveiled plans to design, build, and operate what will be the state’s first privately funded facility of its kind. The plant will be dedicated to recycling used nuclear fuel from America’s light water reactor fleet.
According to Oklo, the nation’s current inventory of 94,000 metric tons of used fuel represents a vast energy resource, comparable to 1.3 trillion barrels of oil, which could potentially power the country for more than 150 years.
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) confirmed it is collaborating with Oklo to explore opportunities that advance next-generation nuclear power and innovative fuel recycling. In a statement, the TVA said the announcement “reinforces the region’s role as a hub for energy innovation and economic growth.”
U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, along with U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann, attended the announcement ceremony in Oak Ridge to support the initiative.
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