For decades, the United States has struggled with what to do with surplus plutonium generated during the Cold War and from dismantled nuclear weapons programs. Much of the material has remained in long-term storage under strict security controls, with federal agencies exploring costly disposal and containment strategies for years.
Now, the U.S. Department of Energy is attempting to turn part of that stockpile into reactor fuel through its Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program. The initiative seeks to convert designated surplus plutonium into fuel for advanced nuclear reactors instead of treating it solely as a long-term waste and security challenge.
As part of that effort, Oklo Inc. entered advanced negotiations with the DOE after the agency selected the company for the program. Oklo was one of five advanced nuclear companies chosen for negotiations, a move that investors viewed as a major step toward securing future reactor fuel supplies.
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