U.S. Dow 320 MW Long Mott Nuclear Project Receives Construction Permit

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 9, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the construction permit application of Long Mott Energy LLC, a subsidiary of Dow, to build the Long Mott nuclear power plant in Calhoun County, Texas. The project plans to deploy four Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactors at Dow's Seadrift chemical production site, with a total design electrical output of 320 MW, using reactor technology provided by X-energy, making it the first advanced nuclear reactor project in the United States to receive a construction permit and intended to supply energy to an industrial site.

The permit approval completes the regulatory process for the project's construction permit stage. According to X-energy's announcement, this is the first time in nearly 60 years that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a construction permit for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, and the first such permit issued for a pebble-bed high-temperature gas-cooled reactor and for nuclear energy deployment at an industrial site. The NRC completed safety and environmental reviews of the proposed reactors and their industrial site, and the permit review also covered the safety design and site suitability of the proposed facilities.

With the construction permit secured, Dow and X-energy will continue to finalize and standardize the Xe-100 reactor design, advance supply chain preparation for long-lead equipment and critical materials, and prepare an operating license application to be submitted to the NRC. Dow plans to consider making a preliminary investment decision in 2027, and the project's full nuclear construction work will be contingent on a final investment decision.

Under the current plan, the Long Mott nuclear power plant is expected to begin operation in the early 2030s, supplying electricity and high-temperature industrial steam to Dow's Seadrift chemical site, gradually replacing existing energy and steam facilities that are approaching the end of their service life. The project's four Xe-100 reactors are designed for a 60-year energy supply life and are included in the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.