Milestone for TX-1 Advanced Fuel Facility

X-energy's subsidiary, TRISO-X, has achieved a major milestone in the US advanced nuclear fuel supply chain with the completion of vertical construction for the TX-1 nuclear fuel fabrication facility. Located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the massive 214,000-square-foot (19,900m²) building is now ready to proceed with interior fit-out and equipment installation.

First Category 2 HALEU Fabrication License

Crucially, TRISO-X has also secured the necessary regulatory approvals to operate. Earlier in 2026, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a 40-year special nuclear material license to the company. X-energy stated that this marks the first Category 2 license issued in the United States specifically for fabricating fuel using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). This regulatory breakthrough paves the way for commercial-scale HALEU fuel manufacturing in the US.

Once operational, it will manufacture about 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles annually, enough to supply up to 11 Xe-100 small modular reactors.

Scaling Up for Advanced Reactors

When fully operational, the TX-1 facility will be a game-changer for the industry. It is designed to manufacture approximately 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles annually, processing about 5 tonnes of uranium. This output will be sufficient to supply up to 11 Xe-100 small modular reactors. Notably, this will be the first commercial-scale advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility built in the US in over 50 years, ending a decades-long drought in domestic advanced fuel manufacturing capabilities.

Alongside these operational milestones, TRISO-X is also undergoing a leadership transition. President Joel Duling will retire from full-time executive leadership on November 20, 2026, though he will remain a part-time senior adviser. Vice President and Chief of Staff Jason Hatfield will assume interim leadership to guide the facility through its critical fit-out and commissioning phases.

This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.