Home » Clark Construction Picked for $48M Phase 2A of X-energy’s Nuclear Fuel Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Clark Construction Picked for $48M Phase 2A of X-energy’s Nuclear Fuel Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Home » Clark Construction Picked for $48M Phase 2A of X-energy’s Nuclear Fuel Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

X-energy has chosen 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 — the stage focused 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 initial of two constructions X-energy is constructing 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.

Funding

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.

X-energy is also building a second project reactor in Washington State, alongside Energy Northwest and Amazon. These projects are part of X-energy’s broader vision to supply clean, safe, and reliable power across the U.S.

Read also: Helion Begins Construction on Orion Nuclear Fusion Power Plant in Washington

X-energy TX-1 Nuclear Fuel Facility in Oak Ridge,: Project Factsheet

Key Project Details

Location: Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Facility Size: 214,000 square feet

construction contract for Clark (Phase 2A): $48.2 million

Additional Equipment Budget: $30 million (U.S. Department of Energy funding)

Construction Start: September 2025

Purpose: Production of specialized nuclear fuel for small modular reactors

Project Significance

This facility becomes the first of its kind in the U.S. to receive a license for this level of fuel production.

Addresses critical gap in domestic nuclear supply chain

Annual capacity to fuel up to 11 small modular reactors

First of two planned buildings at X-energy’s Oak Ridge site

Reactor Applications

Primary Customer: Xe-100 small modular reactor

First Deployment: Dow Chemical site, Texas Gulf Coast

Additional Projects: Washington State facility (partnership with Energy Northwest and Amazon)

Key Stakeholders

General Contractor: Clark Construction Group

Fuel Division: TRISO-X (X-energy subsidiary)

Funding Partner: U.S. Department of Energy

Political Support: U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty

Read also: Back to Power: Palisades Nuclear Plant Ushers in New Era for U.S. Energy

Leave a Comment