US to nuclear startups: Want some Cold War plutonium? (FT)
DOE is offering up to 19mt of weapons-grade plutonium—yes, the real deal from retired warheads—to advanced reactor developers.
The goal: Break Russia’s grip on the nuclear fuel supply chain and jumpstart US production of alternative fuels like MOX or Haleu.
Applicants like Oklo (backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman) and France’s Newcleo are expected to bite, despite safety concerns around commercial plutonium use.