U.S. selects five companies for talks on using surplus Cold War plutonium as reactor fuel

Which companies were selected for advanced negotiations?

The five companies identified in reports are Oklo, Exodys Energy, SHINE Technologies, Standard Nuclear and Flibe Energy Forbes,Hill.

Why do companies want access to this plutonium?

Companies involved say the material could be converted into fuel for advanced reactors and help relieve a shortage or bottleneck in nuclear fuel supply as new reactors are developed Bloomberg Business,Boston Globe.

What is still unresolved?

The DOE selections begin advanced negotiations rather than a final transfer, so the terms of any access to the plutonium still have to be worked out; the broader plan also remains under debate because critics question the security and nonproliferation implications of private-sector use of weapons-grade material NewsChannel 3-12,NYT,CNN International.