Company secures low-enriched uranium (LEU) through WMC, which will be held at a U.S. nuclear fuel facility outside the state of California, as it advances federal regulatory engagement and maritime classification of its first nuclear energy system.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — October 13, 2026 — Bluecore Energy, a maritime nuclear energy company developing compact, water-cooled nuclear power systems, today announced significant progress across several critical elements of its first system, including the purchase of low-enriched uranium (LEU) from WMC, continued pre-application engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and U.S. Coast Guard, and advancement of its maritime classification pathway with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
The milestones come less than three months after Bluecore Energy emerged from stealth and weeks after the company announced a $50 million seed financing. Together, they represent continued progress in moving Bluecore Energy’s technology from engineering and non-fueled hardware development toward fuel fabrication, testing, validation and future deployment.
“We’ve moved quickly since launching Bluecore Energy, but speed only matters if it is paired with rigor. We are putting the pieces in place across fuel, testing, engineering, safety, regulation and maritime classification at the same time. That is what it takes to turn this technology into a real system, and ultimately deliver reliable, zero-emission energy where it is needed most.” — Kofi Asante, Founder and CEO, Bluecore Energy
Bluecore Energy has purchased uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) enriched to 4.95% uranium-235 from WMC, establishing an important part of the company’s nuclear fuel pathway as it advances development of its first system.
The material is currently held at a U.S. nuclear fuel facility outside the state of California while Bluecore Energy advances its plans for future fuel fabrication, testing and validation.
UF₆ is the required form of uranium during the enrichment stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. During the fuel fabrication stage, the UF₆ is converted into uranium dioxide, or UO₂, which can then be fabricated into fuel pellets and assembled into nuclear fuel.
For Bluecore Energy, securing the enriched uranium represents a tangible step beyond reactor design and non-fueled hardware development and toward the physical fuel infrastructure required for future fueled testing.
“As a leading intermediary in the global nuclear fuel market, WMC is excited by the emergence of marine nuclear and proud to bring our expertise to a new generation of reactor developers like Bluecore Energy. Establishing a reliable nuclear fuel supply is a fundamental part of moving any reactor program forward. Bluecore Energy is approaching that work with the seriousness and long-term thinking the nuclear industry requires, and we look forward to continuing to work together.” — Per Jander, Director, WMC nuclear fuel team
WMC operates across the front end of the global nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium, conversion and enrichment products, and supports customers across procurement, logistics, storage, financing and processing.
Bluecore Energy is developing its safety, regulatory and maritime classification pathways alongside its engineering and testing program.
In August, the company began pre-application engagement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, presenting a conceptual overview of its design and discussing its regulatory strategy with NRC staff. Bluecore Energy’s pre-application activities are listed on the NRC website.
The U.S. Coast Guard also participated in the meeting, shortly after the NRC and Coast Guard signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a framework for coordination between the agencies on civilian maritime nuclear projects. Bluecore Energy continues to engage with both agencies as it advances the nuclear and maritime considerations associated with future commercial deployment.
“Fuel is obviously fundamental to building a nuclear energy system, but what matters just as much is the environment and process around how you test it. Having access to the expertise and infrastructure at the largest commercial nuclear fuel facility in the U.S. allows us to approach this next phase with the rigor it requires. Our goal is not simply to move fast. It is to create and deliver zero-emission energy as safely and quickly as possible.” — Megan Moyette, Licensing & Safety Lead, Bluecore Energy (13-year U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer)
In June 2026, Bluecore Energy received an Approval in Principle from ABS for its floating nuclear power plant design, marking the first ABS AIP awarded to a U.S.-designed floating nuclear power plant. The AIP assessment evaluated the concept against the intent of applicable ABS Rules and Guides and established an Approval Road Map outlining the technical requirements and considerations to be addressed as the design progresses through subsequent stages of development.
Bluecore Energy is now advancing several key workstreams in parallel. Engineering, nuclear safety, fuel qualification and testing, federal regulatory engagement, and maritime classification requirements are being integrated to support the development of the company’s first system.
Bluecore Energy is headquartered inside the Port of Long Beach, where the company is developing its first maritime nuclear energy system and conducting research and development on a non-fueled maritime reactor module prototype. Bluecore Energy does not operate an active nuclear reactor or store nuclear fuel at its Port of Long Beach headquarters.
On September 15, Bluecore Energy opened the doors of its headquarters to more than 100 leaders and guests across government, maritime, nuclear energy, infrastructure, investment, technology and the Long Beach community for the inaugural Bluecore Energy Summit.
The event brought together Bluecore Energy Founder and CEO Kofi Asante; Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson; Port of Long Beach CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba; and Slauson & Co. Managing Partners Ajay Relan and Austin Clements for a conversation about growing energy demand, the role nuclear energy can play in meeting it, and the opportunity presented by maritime deployment.
Following the conversation, guests toured Bluecore Energy’s headquarters, development facility and maritime platform to see the company’s work firsthand.
Watch the full Bluecore Energy Summit conversation.
Unlike conventional nuclear power plants built around permanent land-based sites, Bluecore Energy is designing its systems from the beginning for deployment on floating maritime platforms. That architecture creates flexibility in where future systems can operate.
Depending on the application, regulatory requirements and site-specific safety analysis, future Bluecore Energy systems could support ports, AI data centers and coastal infrastructure from appropriate maritime locations, including potential offshore deployment.
This means generating power near where it is needed does not inherently require locating a reactor on valuable land or immediately alongside the communities and infrastructure consuming the electricity. Future sites and operating configurations will be determined through the appropriate federal regulatory, maritime, environmental, security and safety processes.
The maritime environment is not an adaptation of Bluecore Energy’s technology. It is fundamental to how the system is being designed.
Bluecore Energy develops compact, water-cooled nuclear energy systems designed to deliver reliable, zero-emission power where it is needed most. Headquartered inside the Port of Long Beach, Bluecore Energy is developing floating nuclear energy systems for ports, critical infrastructure and future maritime applications.
Bluecore Energy’s mission is to democratize access to clean energy.
For more information, visit bluecore.energy.
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