US plans to use Cold War plutonium in nuclear startups' reactors

The US Department of Energy is planning to reuse Cold War-era plutonium as fuel in new nuclear reactors being developed by energy startups. The initiative is part of the broader Trump administration's effort to advance nuclear energy. However, the plan comes with serious security and handling risks.

The US Department of Energy has taken steps to involve nuclear energy startups in the potential reuse of plutonium stockpiled during the Cold War. According to the proposed plan, this material would serve as fuel in new types of nuclear reactors that private companies are currently actively developing.

Why plutonium is back on the table

With the end of the Cold War, the US was left with a large quantity of plutonium, which is stored under strict security protocols at various national facilities. Until now, long-term storage of this material has been an expensive and complex logistical challenge. The Trump administration now sees potential in these reserves as a resource that could be applied to benefit the growing nuclear energy production sector.

Startups working on so-called small modular reactors and other next-generation nuclear technologies have expressed interest in alternative fuels. Tapping the national plutonium stockpile would open a new source of raw material for them, rather than having it simply sitting unused in warehouses.

Security risks have not vanished

Despite the economic logic behind the plan, it comes with considerable risks. Experts have warned that handling and transporting plutonium to private sector companies presents serious nuclear security challenges. The material is extremely toxic and can also be used to manufacture nuclear weapons, which is why every movement of it requires strict international oversight.

Additionally, it remains unclear in what volumes and under what conditions startups would gain access to plutonium. The US Department of Energy has not yet disclosed detailed regulatory framework specifics that would clarify how to safely direct the material to the civilian sector without violating international non-proliferation treaties.