New Nuclear Fuel Factory in Tennessee to Produce 700,000 Uranium Spheres Annually
The United States is constructing its first new nuclear fuel factory in approximately 50 years in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This facility is designed to produce 700,000 uranium spheres annually, each containing over 18,000 individual particles. These particles are part of a new fuel design known as TRISO-X, which is being tested at the Idaho National Laboratory. The plant, operated by TRISO-X, a subsidiary of X-energy, is part of a broader effort to establish a domestic supply chain for advanced nuclear reactors. The factory's construction is ahead of the reactors it is meant to supply, with the first fuel expected to be fabricated by early 2028. The project has received significant support, including an $11 million grant from Tennessee's Nuclear Energy Supply Chain Investment Fund. 
