Fluor Signs Contract With X-Energy for Advanced Nuclear Project in Texas

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small modular reactor (smr) technical

A small modular reactor (SMR) is a compact nuclear power plant built from factory-made modules that can be assembled on site like building blocks, producing a fraction of the output of traditional large reactors. Investors care because SMRs aim to lower construction time and upfront cost, offer more flexible deployment for regional grids, and can change project risk and long-term revenue profiles compared with large nuclear projects.

advanced reactor demonstration program (ardp) regulatory

A government-backed program that funds and organizes full-scale demonstrations of advanced nuclear reactor designs, with the goal of proving they work safely, reliably and affordably in real-world conditions. For investors this matters because successful demonstrations lower technical and regulatory risk, shorten the path to commercial sales, and can attract public funding or permits—think of it as a sponsored pilot project that helps turn a prototype into a bankable product.

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u.s. nuclear regulatory commission regulatory

A federal agency that licenses, inspects and enforces safety rules for civilian nuclear power plants and other uses of radioactive materials in the United States. Think of it as the official safety inspector and rulemaker for the nuclear industry—its approvals, inspections, fines and rule changes can speed up or delay projects, change operating costs, and alter legal and financial risk, so its actions directly affect companies’ prospects and investor value.

triso-x fuel fabrication facility technical

A triso-x fuel fabrication facility is a plant that manufactures advanced nuclear fuel made of tiny ceramic-coated particles (TRISO) that encase radioactive material in multiple protective layers. Think of it like a factory producing millions of microscopic, multi-layered beads that keep the fuel contained even at very high temperatures. For investors, such a facility matters because it supplies a specialized, safety‑focused product for next‑generation reactors, involves high upfront costs and regulatory oversight, and can be a key long‑term revenue source if advanced reactors gain market traction.

baseload power technical

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04/06/2026 - 04:01 PM

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that it has entered into a contract with X-energy to support the company’s proposed advanced nuclear project at Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations in south Texas. Under the agreement, Fluor will initially deliver Front-End Loading Stage 2 (FEL-2) services. FEL-2 focuses on project definition, strategic planning, feasibility assessment, cost control and risk mitigation. Fluor will recognize the undisclosed contract value for this initial portion of work in the first quarter of 2026.

Leaders from Fluor, X-energy, and Dow gathered at Fluor’s offices in Houston to kick off the FEL-2 phase of X-energy’s advanced nuclear project in Seadrift, Texas.

The X-energy project proposes to develop four, 80-megawatt small modular reactor (SMR) units to supply Dow’s Seadrift site with safe, reliable, carbon-free electricity and industrial steam, replacing aging energy and steam infrastructure. The project is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), which accelerates the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies through cost-shared partnerships with industry. A construction permit application was submitted in March 2025 and is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

“X‑energy’s technology offers a powerful pathway for small modular reactors to deliver safe, reliable and fit-for-purpose baseload power in an industrial setting,” said Pierre Bechelany, Fluor’s Business Group President of Energy Solutions. “With eight decades of nuclear experience, Fluor brings the proven expertise and disciplined execution required to help advance this landmark project.”

X-energy was selected by the DOE in 2020 to develop, license and build its XE-100 advanced SMR and a first TRISO-X fuel fabrication facility. Since then, the company has completed engineering and preliminary reactor design, advanced development and licensing of its fuel facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Seadrift project is expected to become the first grid-scale advanced nuclear reactor deployed to serve an industrial facility in North America.

Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations span 4,700 acres and produce more than 4 billion pounds of materials annually for applications including food packaging, footwear, wire and cable insulation, solar cell components, and medical and pharmaceutical packaging.

About Fluor Corporation

Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) is building a better world by applying world-class expertise to solve its clients’ greatest challenges. Fluor’s nearly 23,000 employees provide professional and technical solutions that deliver safe, well-executed, capital-efficient projects to clients around the world. Fluor had revenue of $15.5 billion in 2025 and is ranked 257 among the Fortune 500 companies. With headquarters in Irving, Texas, Fluor has provided engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.fluor.com or follow Fluor on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

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