US offers weapons-grade plutonium to energy firms to challenge Russia’s uranium grip

The United States is offering domestic energy companies access to plutonium from decommissioned nuclear weapons to produce fuel for advanced reactors, a move aimed at reducing dependence on Russian uranium, per The Financial Times.

On October 22, the Department of Energy published an application allowing nuclear energy firms to request up to 19 metric tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium from Cold War-era stockpiles. The department said companies selected to receive the material could benefit from faster approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a key step for operating nuclear facilities.

At least two companies—Oklo, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and France’s Newcleo—are expected to apply for access to the plutonium. Last week, Newcleo committed up to $2 billion in US investment as part of a joint agreement with Oklo, funding advanced fuel fabrication and manufacturing infrastructure.

The initiative comes after the Biden administration’s 2024 ban on US imports of Russian uranium. The US currently produces less than a ton of uranium annually, highlighting its reliance on foreign sources.

Previous attempts to convert plutonium for civilian use were abandoned in 2018 due to escalating costs. 

By Khagan Isayev