X-energy’s TX-1 fuel fabrication facility is advancing in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as the project moves through major construction and licensing milestones. The facility will support domestic production of TRISO-X fuel for X-energy’s Xe-100 advanced small modular reactors. Moreover, the project now has a 40-year federal fuel manufacturing license and additional state support for expansion.
The latest project update came in July 2026, when TRISO-X received an $11 million Tennessee economic development grant. The funding will support expansion of its Oak Ridge fuel campus.
The wider campus will include TX-1, a planned TX-2 facility, and a dedicated fuel research laboratory. Together, the facilities aim to establish large-scale domestic TRISO-X fuel production.
TX-1 Fuel Fabrication Facility construction advances in Oak Ridge
X-energy and TRISO-X began above-ground construction on TX-1 in November 2025. Clark Construction Group received the $48.2 million Phase 2A contract for the building’s core and shell.
The facility covers approximately 214,812 square feet at the Oak Ridge Horizon Center. Clark Construction’s current project record lists completion in 2026.
However, X-energy’s latest investor materials provide a more detailed overall schedule. They indicate that Phase 2B equipment installation was expected to begin in mid-2026. They also target overall construction completion in 2027.
Therefore, the earlier mid-2026 completion expectation for Phase 2A should not be treated as the project’s final completion date. The broader facility construction schedule now extends into 2027.
The project will produce approximately 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles annually. That output could support as many as 11 Xe-100 reactors.
Furthermore, TX-1 will form the first commercial-scale facility on TRISO-X’s planned Oak Ridge fuel campus. The facility will supply fuel for X-energy’s planned reactor deployments.
TX-1 Fuel Fabrication Facility gains major regulatory and funding support
A major 2026 milestone came in February, when TRISO-X received a 40-year Special Nuclear Material License from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The license covers commercial HALEU fuel manufacturing at TX-1 and TX-2.
The approval also makes TX-1 the first Category II nuclear fuel facility licensed by the NRC. It marks the first new NRC-licensed nuclear fuel facilities in more than 50 years.
The NRC license allows TRISO-X to receive, possess, process and transport HALEU throughout the fuel manufacturing cycle. However, NRC must complete a final inspection before the facility can begin operations.
Meanwhile, Tennessee awarded TRISO-X an additional $11 million grant in July 2026. The funding supports potential expansion through TX-2 and the proposed TX-L research facility.
TX-2 would provide significantly greater production capacity than TX-1. The company expects the expanded campus to support fuel for approximately 55 Xe-100 reactors.
The expansion could also create more than 1,000 permanent jobs across the wider campus. That figure covers the planned expansion rather than TX-1 alone.
The development forms part of the U.S. effort to establish a domestic advanced nuclear fuel supply chain. It also supports X-energy’s broader commercial reactor deployment strategy.
The TX-1 project is therefore progressing beyond its original construction-contract milestone. Its current trajectory combines active building construction, federal licensing and preparation for equipment installation.
The development also connects with other advanced nuclear projects in the United States. For instance, TerraPower is constructing its Natrium reactor in Wyoming, creating another major advanced nuclear construction programme.
Current project status
As of 2026, TX-1 remains under construction at the Oak Ridge Horizon Center. Clark Construction is delivering the facility’s core and shell under its Phase 2A contract.
X-energy’s latest investor information indicates that Phase 2B equipment installation is expected to follow the vertical construction work. Overall construction is expected to continue into 2027, with operations targeted for the first half of 2028.
The February NRC license removes a major regulatory hurdle. However, the facility must still complete final inspection requirements before operations begin.
The July Tennessee grant also expands the project’s significance beyond TX-1. It establishes a potential pathway toward a larger Oak Ridge nuclear fuel manufacturing campus.
TX-1 nuclear fuel plant
The X-energy’s TX-1 nuclear fuel plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee is a significant step made toward establishing a domestic supply chain for advanced nuclear reactor fuel in the United States. The facility will produce TRISO-X fuel. This is a high-assurance, particle-based fuel designed for next-generation small modular and advanced reactors, including X-energy’s own Xe-100 model. Strategically located within the Oak Ridge nuclear innovation corridor, the plant aims to strengthen U.S. energy security by reducing reliance on imported nuclear materials while supporting the nation’s transition toward cleaner, reliable power. The spirit also seems to ride on the time to Make America Great Again. Once operational, it will supply fuel for both commercial and government applications, and continue positioning Tennessee as a key hub in the emerging advanced nuclear energy market.
Clark Construction Picked for $48M Phase 2A of X-energy’s Nuclear Fuel Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
September, 2025 X-energy chose Clark Construction Group to handle Phase 2A construction of its advanced nuclear fuel facility, TX-1, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This is a major milestone for X-energy as it proceeds with plans to produce its own in-house nuclear fuel for future reactors.
The construction contract, valued at $48.2 million, covers “Phase 2A” of the TX-1 project. This stage focuses on building the core and outer shell of the 214,000-square-foot facility. That phase of construction will begin in September following site preparation, which is already underway.
TX-1 is the first of two constructions X-energy is planning on its Oak Ridge campus. It will produce fuel for X-energy’s new small modular reactor, the Xe-100, with the first deployment planned at a Dow Chemical plant on the Texas Gulf Coast.
X-energy is also involved in the alongside Energy Northwest. This is a partnership with Amazon who also continue their push in nuclear energy through SMRs. These projects are part of X-energy’s broader vision to supply clean, safe, and reliable power across the U.S.
Funding for X-energy TX-1 Nuclear Fuel Facility
In addition to the $48.2 million for its construction, X-energy has also been given a go-ahead to spend an additional $30 million of the U.S. Department of Energy’s budget to pre-purchase essential equipment and materials. This is to prevent delay time and maintain overall project timelines.
Joel Duling, TRISO-X President of fuel division at X-energy, said that this project fills a substantial gap in the US nuclear supply chain. “This plant will guarantee America has a secure, home-based fuel supply for the next generation of nuclear power,” he said.
The project was endorsed by regional and national leaders
“Tennessee and Oak Ridge are going to continue to be at the forefront of nuclear energy,” U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty stated, forecasting the investment would bring jobs and more energy production to the area.
After installation, the TX-1 plant will be the first in the country to be licensed to manufacture this amount of fuel. It’s capable of producing as much fuel annually as would be needed to power up to 11 small reactors.
Nuclear-related projects are also on the rise in the U.S., in Tennessee Oklo Inc. on September 5, 2025, ANNOUNCEED plans to build a $1.68B nuclear fuel recycling facility in the state.
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Project fact sheet
Name: TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility TX-1
Type: Advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility
Developer: TRISO-X, LLC
Parent company: X-energy, Inc.
Location: Oak Ridge Horizon Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States
Facility size: 214,812 square feet
Phase 2A contractor: Clark Construction Group
Delivery method: General contracting
Designer: Sargent & Lundy
Primary product: TRISO-X advanced nuclear fuel
Planned annual output: Approximately 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles
Overall construction target: 2027
Target operations: First half of 2028
Project team
Developer: X-energy, Inc.
Fuel facility developer: TRISO-X, LLC
Parent company: X-energy, Inc.
Fuel technology developer: X-energy and TRISO-X
Project client: TRISO-X
General contractor: Clark Construction Group
Phase 2A contractor: Clark Construction Group
Designer: Sargent & Lundy
Federal programme partner: U.S. Department of Energy
Nuclear regulator: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
State funding partner: State of Tennessee
State economic development programme: Tennessee Nuclear Energy Supply Chain Investment Fund
Site: Oak Ridge Horizon Center
Local development stakeholder: Oak Ridge Economic Development Initiative
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