U.S. offers nuclear energy firms access to weapons-grade plutonium, FT reports

The U.S. Department of Energy has offered energy companies access to weapons-grade plutonium from Cold War-era warheads to convert into fuel for advanced reactors, according to a Financial Times report by Martha Muir. The move is part of an effort to boost the nuclear industry and break Russia’s dominance over the uranium supply chain. At least two companies, Oklo (OKLO), backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and France’s Newcleo, are expected to apply to access the government’s plutonium stockpile. However, the story notes that experts have raised concerns about the commercial use of plutonium and the risk of the material falling into the wrong hands.