Lightbridge Approved to Conduct Advanced Nuclear Fuel Irradiation Testing at Idaho National Laboratory

On September 9, Lightbridge Corporation (Lightbridge, Nasdaq: LTBR), a developer of advanced nuclear fuel technology, announced that it has completed the signing of Project Task Statement No. 2 (PTS No. 2) under the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), the operating contractor of Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Under this task statement, Lightbridge will gain access to the loop test facility of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory to conduct irradiation testing of Lightbridge Fuel™ cladded fuel rods.

Loop testing is regarded as an important step in advancing materials research toward fuel qualification. Unlike static in-pile testing, ATR loop testing can irradiate fuel in an independent, controlled environment, simulating the coolant chemistry, temperature, pressure, and flow conditions experienced by fuel rods in commercial light water reactors. Regulators and utilities typically place significant emphasis on data obtained under such conditions when evaluating whether new fuels can be used in operating reactors.

Under PTS No. 2, Lightbridge will test cladded fuel rods made of enriched uranium-zirconium alloy, with fuel rod geometries including cylindrical and multi-lobe shapes. The work builds on the technical achievements from Lightbridge's previous project task statement under its collaboration with BEA, including fuel manufacturing process development, and advances the project from materials and manufacturing process development to the irradiation testing phase, supporting qualification for commercial deployment in existing light water reactors.

Seth Grae, Chairman and CEO of Lightbridge, stated that gaining access to ATR loop system test conditions is critical to advancing the project. The number of facilities worldwide capable of irradiating fuel rods under conditions approximating real commercial reactor operation is limited, and Lightbridge Fuel has secured testing access at one of them. One of the core concerns for utilities is irradiation data, and the relevant tests will be used to address this need.

The scope of work for PTS No. 2 includes test design, material supply, assembly, irradiation and transportation, and material disposition, with an execution period of approximately 60 months. Dr. Scott Holcomb, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Lightbridge, stated that the data obtained from this irradiation testing will be used to validate fuel rod design and material performance and to benchmark relevant models. The test samples are subsequently planned for further transient irradiation testing in the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT) at Idaho National Laboratory.

Idaho National Laboratory is managed by Battelle Energy Alliance on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy. It is the U.S. center for nuclear energy research and development and conducts research in areas of U.S. Department of Energy strategic goals including energy, national security, science, and the environment. Lightbridge is currently developing Lightbridge Fuel™, a technology targeting existing light water reactors and pressurized heavy water reactors, and planned for use in new small modular reactors.