BWXT also processed the high assay low enriched uranium feedstock material used to manufacture the Antares TRISO fuel compacts. The company said the HALEU material was processed from scrap materials provided by the National Nuclear Security Administration.
“This marks a historic milestone for advanced nuclear fuel fabrication in the United States,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “The Trump administration is proud to partner with private companies such as BWXT, as we strengthen the foundation of a reliable and secure nuclear supply chain to support both national defense and commercial energy needs.”
“BWXT is delivering leading-edge nuclear products that support the energy dominance goals of our nation, and this milestone underscores that fact,” said Rex D. Geveden, BWXT president and chief executive officer. “Our skilled workforce, advanced manufacturing technologies and nuclear-qualified supply chain are driving a new generation of reactor demonstrations across the country.”
Antares modelled its reactor fuel on the TRISO fuel compacts BWXT delivered for Project Pele. Project Pele is the 1.5-megawatt transportable microreactor BWXT is building for the U.S. Army’s Strategic Capabilities Office.
The TRISO fuel specification was developed through the Department of Energy’s Advanced Gas Reactor programme over several decades. BWXT said that work, combined with its own decades of TRISO development at its Specialty Fuels Fabrication facility in Lynchburg, helped accelerate Antares’ successful criticality test.
“BWXT’s TRISO fuel supported our path to criticality,” said Jordan Bramble, CEO, Antares. “Building on a proven fuel specification developed through Project Pele let our team focus on what we had to prove ourselves: our control system and reactor physics. We’re grateful for a partnership that continues as we move from neutrons to electrons.”
BWXT said the milestone demonstrates the value of mature and scalable U.S. fuel manufacturing infrastructure. The company said it continues to support Antares with ongoing TRISO fuel manufacturing.
“BWXT is proud to work with Antares and deliver the fuel necessary for this important milestone at the Idaho National Lab and for the future,” said Joe Miller, BWXT’s president for Government Operations. “Antares is moving quickly to progress from concept to criticality and we are proud to supply this team with the TRISO needed to do so.”
BWXT said its continued work with Antares reinforces its readiness to meet customer timelines. The company said it is also positioned to support growing national demand for advanced reactor fuel.
