This critical procurement milestone solidifies a key supply chain component, underscoring the commercialization of the next-generation nuclear technology in the United States.
X-energy Reactor Company, LLC, a leading developer of advanced nuclear reactors and fuel technology, announced today a major step forward in its commercialization plans, finalizing a Definitive Supply Agreement with Toyo Tanso USA, Inc. The agreement, valued at approximately $40 million, secures the critical supply of fine-grain graphite components for the first four-unit deployment of X-energy's Xe-100 SMR fleet.
The components will be used in the proposed Long Mott Generating Station, a four-unit plant on the Texas Gulf Coast being developed in partnership with Dow, Inc. at its UCC Seadrift Operations site. This project is a centerpiece of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, making the successful procurement of long-lead items like nuclear-grade graphite a crucial de-risking step.
Under the terms of the agreement, Toyo Tanso, a world-leading manufacturer, will supply graphite core structural components utilizing their specialized IG-110 fine-grain isotropic graphite. Graphite is fundamental to the High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) technology of the Xe-100, serving both as a neutron moderator and a key structural component. This enables the reactor to operate at very high temperatures while maintaining inherent, passive safety characteristics.
"World-class technology demands a world-class team, and Toyo Tanso’s proven track record is a powerful addition to that team,” said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. “This is an important step forward on our path to the commercial market, securing a critical supply chain component for our first deployment with one of the world’s leading nuclear suppliers.”
Toyo Tanso's IG-110 grade is renowned for its high thermal resistance and proven operational credentials in existing high-temperature gas-cooled reactors globally, providing X-energy with a reliable, high-performance material source.
This supply deal is a significant benchmark in X-energy's efforts to cultivate a robust and reliable SMR supply chain in the United States and among its allies. The procurement of this specialized graphite is not limited to the Texas project. X-energy and Toyo Tanso are also in preliminary discussions regarding supply for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility in Washington state, X-energy’s second major project with Energy Northwest and a key component of its partnership with Amazon to deploy over 5 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2039.
The company's commercial portfolio is expanding rapidly. Beyond the domestic projects with Dow and Amazon, X-energy recently signed a Joint Development Agreement with Centrica for up to 6 GW of advanced reactor capacity in the United Kingdom, potentially bringing the total prospective Xe-100 deployment pipeline to over 11 GW, or approximately 144 Xe-100 SMRs.
