US grants first nuclear fuel license in 50 years to Amazon-backed firm

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted its first new nuclear fuel manufacturing license in over 50 years to TRISO-X, a subsidiary of Amazon-backed X-energy. This license authorizes TRISO-X to produce advanced TRISO fuel using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) at two commercial facilities, TX-1 and TX-2, for an initial 40-year period. TX-1, currently under construction in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is poised to become the first Category II nuclear fuel facility in the US. This milestone marks a significant step toward establishing a domestic supply chain for advanced nuclear fuel, reducing reliance on limited global sources. TRISO fuel features tiny uranium particles coated with multiple protective layers, enhancing safety and resistance to overheating compared to traditional nuclear fuel. The NRC’s approval followed comprehensive safety and environmental reviews confirming compliance with federal standards. TX-1 and TX-2 will support X-energy’s goal of deploying up to 144 Xe-100 small modular