BWX Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BWXT) announced that its TRISO nuclear fuel enabled Antares Nuclear Inc.'s reactor to achieve criticality under Executive Order 14301, which reformed nuclear reactor testing at the Department of Energy.

The milestone represents the first successful reactor criticality under the administration's program. BWXT manufactured the TRISO fuel compacts and processed the high assay low enriched uranium feedstock material from scrap materials provided by the National Nuclear Security Administration.

"This marks a historic milestone for advanced nuclear fuel fabrication in the United States," said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. "The Trump administration is proud to partner with private companies such as BWXT, as we strengthen the foundation of a reliable and secure nuclear supply chain to support both national defense and commercial energy needs."

Antares modeled its reactor fuel on the TRISO fuel compacts BWXT delivered for Project Pele, a 1.5 megawatt transportable microreactor BWXT is building for the U.S. Army's Strategic Capabilities Office. The TRISO fuel specification was developed within DOE's Advanced Gas Reactor program over several decades.

"BWXT's TRISO fuel supported our path to criticality," said Jordan Bramble, CEO of Antares. "Building on a proven fuel specification developed through Project Pele let our team focus on what we had to prove ourselves: our control system and reactor physics."

BWXT manufactures TRISO fuel at its Specialty Fuels Fabrication facility in Lynchburg, Virginia. The company continues to support Antares with ongoing TRISO fuel manufacturing for future operations.

The information is based on a company press release statement.