Bluecore Energy, Long Beach, Calif., has purchased low-enriched uranium from nuclear fuel supplier WMC as it develops its first floating nuclear power system and advances discussions with federal regulators and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
The company said Oct. 13 it purchased uranium hexafluoride enriched to 4.95% uranium-235. The material is being held at a U.S. nuclear fuel facility outside California ahead of planned fuel fabrication, testing and validation.
Bluecore is developing compact, water-cooled nuclear power systems for floating maritime platforms. The company said potential applications include supplying electricity to ports, data centers and coastal infrastructure, with possible offshore deployment. Future locations and operating configurations would depend on regulatory requirements and site-specific safety reviews.
The fuel purchase follows the company’s recently announced $50 million seed financing.
“We are putting the pieces in place across fuel, testing, engineering, safety, regulation and maritime classification at the same time,” said Kofi Asante, Bluecore’s founder and CEO.
Uranium hexafluoride is the form used during uranium enrichment. During fuel fabrication, it is converted into uranium dioxide, which can be made into pellets and assembled into nuclear fuel. Bluecore said the purchase supports its planned transition from reactor design and non-fueled hardware development toward fueled testing.
WMC supplies products and services across the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium, conversion and enrichment, along with procurement, logistics and storage.
“Establishing a reliable nuclear fuel supply is a fundamental part of moving any reactor program forward,” said Per Jander, a director on WMC’s nuclear fuel team.
Bluecore began pre-application engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in August, presenting its conceptual design and discussing its regulatory strategy with agency staff. The Coast Guard also participated in the meeting, following a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies establishing a framework for coordination on civilian maritime nuclear projects.
The company said it continues to engage with both agencies while developing its engineering, nuclear safety, fuel qualification and testing programs.
In June, Bluecore received approval in principle from ABS for its floating nuclear power plant design. According to Bluecore, it was the first ABS approval in principle for a U.S.-designed floating nuclear power plant.
The assessment evaluated the concept against applicable ABS rules and guides and established a road map of technical requirements to address as the design advances. The company remains in development, with further testing, classification work and regulatory reviews ahead of commercial deployment.
Bluecore’s headquarters and development facility are inside the Port of Long Beach, where it is conducting research and development on a non-fueled maritime reactor module prototype. The company said it does not operate an active nuclear reactor or store nuclear fuel at that location.
