X-energy and its subsidiary TRISO-X have started above-ground construction of the TX-1 advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. TX-1 will be the first facility in the United States dedicated to manufacturing TRISO fuel for X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactors. The facility will cover over 214,000 square feet and is expected to produce 5 metric tons of uranium per year. This output will provide about 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles, enough to supply 11 Xe-100 reactors annually.
The project has moved from site development to full-scale building. Completion is targeted for mid-2026. TX-1 is set to become the first Category II fuel fabrication plant licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The facility is expected to create more than 400 jobs in the Oak Ridge area. X-energy is working with the NRC to obtain regulatory approval by May 2026.
TRISO-X has received Department of Energy approval to allocate an additional $30 million for long-lead procurement items. This funding aims to keep the project on schedule. Operations at TX-1 are projected to begin in 2027. The initial fuel production will support X-energy’s first commercial reactor project, a four-unit plant in partnership with Dow Chemical Company in Seadrift, Texas…