November 17, 2025 — X-energy Reactor Company, LLC and its subsidiary TRISO-X announced today that above-ground building construction has begun on the TX-1 advanced nuclear fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This marks a historic milestone for U.S. nuclear infrastructure, as the facility will be the first new fuel fabrication facility licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in over 50 years.
The 214,812 square-foot facility represents a critical investment in advanced small modular reactor (SMR) fuel technology and signals accelerating momentum in the U.S. nuclear energy sector's infrastructure modernization.
X-energy selected Clark Construction Group for the core and shell construction phase with a $48.2 million award announced earlier in 2025. The commencement of vertical construction marks the transition from site development to full-scale facility construction.
Construction on this phase is expected to be completed by mid-2026. The facility is located on a 110-acre site at the Horizon Center in Oak Ridge, a strategic location for advanced nuclear fuel processing given the region's existing nuclear infrastructure and expertise.
The TX-1 facility represents a significant construction project combining specialty requirements for nuclear fuel handling, precision manufacturing, and regulatory compliance. The project involves:
For contractors and subcontractors, projects of this complexity and regulatory importance create opportunities for firms with expertise in specialty manufacturing facility construction, nuclear-grade infrastructure, and tight quality management protocols.
Once complete, TX-1 will produce approximately 5 metric tons of uranium (MTU) or 700,000 TRISO pebbles annually. This production capacity would provide enough fuel for up to 11 of X-energy's Xe-100 small modular reactors.
The TRISO (tristructural-isotropic) fuel technology represents a significant advancement in nuclear fuel safety and efficiency. Unlike conventional nuclear fuels, TRISO particles are designed with multiple protective layers, enhancing safety characteristics for advanced reactor designs.
Joel Duling, President of TRISO-X, stated (X-energy press release, November 17, 2025): "The start of vertical construction marks another significant milestone in bringing our bold vision for the future of nuclear energy to life. As TX-1 takes shape, it will stand as a symbol of our team's relentless dedication and determination to bring this transformative project forward in just a few years, not decades."
In parallel with construction, TRISO-X continues to engage with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the facility's Category II Fuel Fabrication license application. Regulatory approval is anticipated by May 2026, allowing for equipment installation and commissioning to proceed simultaneously with construction completion.
The facility has begun commercial qualification testing of TRISO-X fuel at Idaho National Laboratory's Advanced Test Reactor in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy. This 13-month qualification program will evaluate fuel performance under full power ranges, temperatures, and burn-up conditions — representing the first commercially produced SMR fuel form to undergo testing of this rigor.
The TX-1 facility supports X-energy's broader deployment strategy for Xe-100 small modular reactors. The company is advancing two major projects:
Key milestones for the TX-1 facility and broader project timeline:
The successful construction and licensing of TX-1 could serve as a template for additional advanced fuel facilities, potentially creating expanded opportunities for specialized nuclear manufacturing facility construction across the United States.
The start of vertical construction on X-energy's TX-1 facility represents validation of advanced small modular reactor technology as a realistic near-term energy solution. For the construction industry, it signals growing demand for specialized facility construction combining nuclear-grade manufacturing standards with cutting-edge clean energy infrastructure. The project exemplifies the emerging opportunities in advanced energy facility construction as the U.S. nuclear sector modernizes and expands its fuel production capabilities.
Sources: X-energy Reactor Company, LLC (November 17, 2025). "X-energy Begins Vertical Construction for First-in-the-Nation Advanced Nuclear Fuel Fabrication Facility"; U.S. Department of Energy (November 18, 2025). "X-energy Starts Building Construction for Advanced Nuclear Fuel Facility"
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