U.S. Greenlights Oklo for Cold War Plutonium as Reactor Fuel

Oklo, a nuclear power company, has been chosen by the U.S. Energy Department to engage in discussions about repurposing Cold War-era plutonium for use in nuclear reactor fuel. The initiative follows an executive order from former President Trump to repurpose surplus plutonium for advanced nuclear technologies.

In a significant development, nuclear power company Oklo announced on Tuesday that it has been selected by the U.S. Energy Department for advanced discussions on using Cold War-era plutonium as nuclear reactor fuel.

This follows a report from last year by Reuters, which detailed the Trump administration's plans to make available around 20 metric tons of surplus plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads. The intent is to use it as a potential fuel source for U.S. power companies.

The decision aligns with an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, which sought to abandon the dilution and disposal of excess plutonium. Instead, the order pushes for its use in advanced nuclear technologies, thereby offering a new direction in nuclear resource management.