Oklo Inc. has unveiled plans to construct a unique nuclear fuel recycling facility in Tennessee, a venture that will provide more than 800 well-paying jobs and attract up to $1.68 billion in capital investment. The facility is the initial phase of an advanced fuel center, with the vision of converting spent nuclear fuel into new fuel for advanced reactors such as Oklo’s Aurora behemoth.
The project aims to address two issues at once: meeting growing demand for clean, reliable power and an outlet for the country’s stockpile of spent nuclear fuel. The Tennessee facility, when operational, will become the first U.S. facility to recycle nuclear material on a large scale for the use of advanced reactors.
Turning Waste into Power
Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte said the project is a turning point for nuclear power. “Fuel is the key to bringing nuclear power to the market,” DeWitte stated. “By recycling used fuel in commercial quantities, we are turning waste into gigawatts, saving dollars, and building a secure U.S. supply chain that will allow the deployment of clean, reliable, and affordable power. Tennessee is at the forefront of proving how recycling can be utilized to facilitate new nuclear development and growth.”
The process is carried out by reclaiming usable material from used nuclear fuel and reassembling it into new fast reactor fuel. The process not only creates value from available resources but also reduces volumes of waste, making disposal cheaper and safer.
Partnership With TVA
Oklo is negotiating with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to recycle TVA spent fuel in the new facility. The two organizations are also evaluating potential sales of power from follow-on Aurora reactors to TVA customers. If executed, the alliance would be the first instance where a U.S. utility has pursued recycling its nuclear waste into new electricity through electrochemical processes that turn an aging liability into an asset.
TVA President and CEO Don Moul called the project a milestone for the Valley. “The next generation of nuclear technologies are being built and engineered right here in our own backyard,” he said. “Our partnership with Oklo is another step forward in shaping the future of nuclear energy and building a secure energy future for the Valley and beyond.”
Regulatory Path and Timeline
Oklo has already outlined its plan to license with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and completed its pre-application readiness assessment for the Aurora powerhouse project. The Tennessee facility will begin to produce fuel in the early 2030s, pending approvals.
The project accesses a vast national resource: more than 94,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel currently stored temporarily at U.S. electric power plant sites. The energy content in this material is equivalent to 1.3 trillion barrels of oil—five times the proven reserves of Saudi Arabia.
Broader Nuclear Strategy
The recycling facility is just the first step of Oklo’s vision for an advanced fuel center, ultimately becoming a multi-facility campus for fuel manufacturing and recycling. Tennessee’s selection as the site emphasizes the state’s aspirations to be the location of America’s next generation of nuclear industry.
Governor Bill Lee highlighted the state’s priority in energy innovation. “Tennessee is going to lead America’s energy independence, and that’s why we created the Nuclear Energy Fund to support and expand our state’s nuclear cluster. We’re excited to partner with Oklo to innovate for the future, while providing long-term opportunity and prosperity to Tennessee families,” he said.
Oklo’s Expanding Role
The Tennessee release follows a series of milestones for Oklo. The company was recently selected to provide an Aurora microreactor to Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska and is advancing site work on its first commercial Aurora reactor at Idaho National Laboratory. It also joined the nuclear supply chain by acquiring Atomic Alchemy, which augments U.S. radioisotope-production capacity.
Alongside national laboratories, Oklo has demonstrated its complete fuel recycling cycle and current research partnerships with the Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to advance reactor development.
Through these initiatives, Oklo is spearheading the transition toward a new nuclear renaissance—a renaissance founded on recycling, efficiency, and domestic energy security.
In Oak Ridge, Tennessee, another nuclear-related project X-energy’s TX-1 nuclear fuel facility, recently selected Clark Construction Group for Phase 2A construction.
Oklo Tennessee Nuclear Fuel Recycling Facility: Project Factsheet
Project Overview
Location: Tennessee
Developer: Oklo Inc.
Type: Nuclear fuel recycling facility
Status: Planning phase, pending regulatory approvals
Key Features
First-of-its-kind commercial-scale nuclear fuel recycling facility in the United States
Converts used nuclear fuel into new fuel material for advanced reactors
Initial phase of planned advanced fuel center campus
Economic Impact
Jobs Created: 800+ high-quality positions
Investment: Up to $1.68 billion
Timeline: Fuel production expected to begin early 2030s
Technology & Process
Electrochemical recycling processes
Recovers usable material from used nuclear fuel
Fabricates new fuel for fast reactors (including Oklo’s Aurora reactors)
Reduces waste volumes while extending resource value
Strategic Partnerships
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Discussions underway to recycle TVA’s used fuel
Potential power sales agreements for future Aurora reactor output
Would mark first U.S. utility recycling nuclear waste into new electricity
Regulatory Status
Licensing plan mapped with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Pre-application readiness assessment completed for Aurora powerhouse
Pending final regulatory approvals
Resource Potential
Targets portion of 94,000+ metric tons of used nuclear fuel stored at U.S. power plants
Energy potential equivalent to 1.3 trillion barrels of oil
Supports domestic nuclear fuel supply chain security
State Support
Backed by Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Fund
Part of state strategy to lead U.S. advanced nuclear sector
Governor Bill Lee endorsement for energy independence goals
