SuperCritical Materials secures U.S. Department of Energy license for uranium seawater extraction process

Technology licensing supports upstream fuel-cycle research

SuperCritical Materials, a nuclear fuel start-up based in Austin, Texas, announced it has secured a license from the Department of Energy for a patented uranium and critical materials adsorbent manufacturing process. The process was originally developed by a team led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

SuperCritical Materials said the license is intended to underpin efforts to extract uranium from seawater at an industrial scale. The company stated it plans to pursue this approach both in the United States and abroad.

What the announcement indicates for uranium sourcing

The development centers on the upstream step of uranium recovery, using adsorbent materials associated with uranium and other critical materials. By focusing on manufacturing of those adsorbents under a Department of Energy license, the company is positioning the technology for broader commercialization rather than limiting it to a research context.

For supply-chain stakeholders, the announcement points to potential long-term interest in alternative uranium sourcing pathways that could complement conventional production. However, the item is primarily about licensing of extraction-related technology, not about downstream nuclear fuel fabrication, utility contracting, or commercial offtake arrangements.

American Nuclear Society president Mark Peters outlines priorities for coming year

Leadership transition and institutional focus

Mark Peters begins his term as president of the American Nuclear Society, describing it as an “honor and a privilege” and thanking the membership for its trust.

In the same message, Peters recognizes the leadership of his predecessor, Hash Hashemian, and highlights the dedication of ANS CEO Craig Piercy, the organization’s staff, and volunteers. He frames ANS’s work as driven by people contributing time, expertise, and energy to a mission larger than themselves.

Opportunity across nuclear science and technology

Peters says the Society is starting the year at a time of “tremendous opportunity” for nuclear science and technology.

He points to growing global recognition that nuclear energy and nuclear technologies are important for addressing pressing societal challenges.

He also cites advances in medical isotopes, fusion, space nuclear systems, and advanced reactors, saying these developments are creating “new possibilities” for innovation and impact.

NRC convenes advanced reactor developers and federal officials for public status briefing

Public briefing on advanced reactor progress

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission convened a public meeting on Tuesday morning focused on the “Advanced Reactor Landscape: Current Status and Moving Forward.” The session gathered leaders from the Department of Energy, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and several reactor developers, including TerraPower, Radiant, Westinghouse, and X-energy.

Federal and industry officials used the meeting to present updates on their respective endeavors. The format included refreshers on previously announced information as well as takeaways based on their experiences, intended to inform stakeholders on where advanced reactor initiatives stand.

The presence of both U.S. and Canadian regulators alongside multiple developers underscores the cross-border and multi-organization engagement shaping advanced reactor oversight and industry planning. However, the available details are limited to the broad nature of the status presentations rather than specific program milestones.

  • Meeting title: “Advanced Reactor Landscape: Current Status and Moving Forward”
  • Participants included the Department of Energy and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, alongside TerraPower, Radiant, Westinghouse, and X-energy
  • Officials provided general project and initiative updates and refreshers during the public session

Implications for supply-chain discussions—without procurement details

While the meeting is directly relevant to new build and regulatory context, the information provided does not include any specific supply-chain contracts, procurement arrangements, or component sourcing details.

For supply-chain professionals, the primary takeaway from the brief description is that regulators and project teams are actively sharing current status and ongoing perspectives, which can be useful for monitoring readiness signals. Any concrete sourcing implications would require additional reporting beyond what is included here.