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US Seeks to Give Weapons-Grade Plutonium to Start-Ups for Fuel
The Trump administration plans to provide surplus weapons-grade plutonium from dismantled warheads to startups, aiming to convert it into fuel for nuclear power plants.
What: The Energy Department will supply over 50 tons of plutonium from nuclear weapons programs to private companies for conversion into nuclear power plant fuel. This initiative seeks to address a current shortage of nuclear fuel and expand nuclear power, forming part of a national space policy to develop a nuclear space reactor.
Why it matters: This move highlights a novel approach to both nuclear disarmament and energy independence, repurposing a dangerous byproduct of military operations into a potential solution for clean energy, but also raises proliferation concerns.
Original article
The Trump administration plans to give plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads to companies to convert it into fuel for nuclear power plants. The Energy Department has more than 50 tons of surplus plutonium left over from nuclear weapons programs. One of the bottlenecks in expanding nuclear power right now is a lack of fuel. Harvesting old plutonium stockpiles could provide a short-term fix.
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