Bechtel Corporation
04/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/23/2026 10:01
Bechtel and TerraPower Begin Construction at Natrium® Kemmerer Unit 1
April 23, 2026
Bechtel and TerraPower Begin Construction at Natrium® Kemmerer Unit 1
Press Contacts
Reston, VA
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Milestone supports broader deployment of advanced nuclear energy in the U.S.
Today, Bechtel, a global leader in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), serving as TerraPower's EPC partner, has begun mobilizing teams and transitioning into field execution at the Natrium® Kemmerer Unit 1 (KU1) site in Wyoming.
Reflecting on today's milestone, Dena Volovar, President of Bechtel's Nuclear, Security & Environmental business, shared the following:
"Today's start of construction at TerraPower's Natrium Kemmerer Unit 1 marks an important step forward - not only for the project, but for the future of advanced nuclear delivery in the United States.
At Bechtel, our focus is on helping bring advanced nuclear technologies from first-of-a-kind innovation to repeatable, scalable delivery. Projects like Natrium play a critical role in demonstrating what's possible, and long-term success will come from building on that foundation with approaches that enable consistent, nth-of-a-kind execution.
As U.S. electricity demand continues to rise, including from data centers powering AI and other digital infrastructure, the industry needs more than innovation. It needs proven execution models that reduce risk, improve predictability, and allow projects to be delivered consistently, safely, and at scale.
That is where Bechtel's focus is distinct: making advanced nuclear buildable again - and again. At Natrium, we are applying disciplined planning, standardization, and digital execution practices that are designed to make repetition possible. That focus on constructability and execution readiness is critical to driving learning effects, controlling cost, and shortening schedules as advanced nuclear moves beyond demonstration projects toward broader deployment.
Over the past year, Bechtel teams completed early works at the Natrium site, including the Test and Fill Facility and the Kemmerer Training Center, laying the foundation for safe construction and long-term operations. With construction now underway at Kemmerer Unit 1, we are moving into field execution with a high level of readiness, supported by integrated planning, early collaboration, and close alignment with regulators.
Natrium also represents a milestone for the industry more broadly, as the first utility scale advanced reactor project in the United States to receive a construction permit from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That regulatory progress, combined with a delivery approach designed for repeatability, is what will enable advanced nuclear power to move from promise to impact.
We're proud to partner with TerraPower on this first of a kind project, and to help establish a blueprint for how advanced reactors can be delivered at scale to support a cleaner, more reliable energy future."
Bechtel is delivering the future of nuclear energy now by bringing the latest in digital tools and mega-project delivery to build with execution certainty. Currently deployed on the Poland AP1000 project, Natrium Plant, and the Tennessee Valley Authority Clinch River Small Modular Reactor, Bechtel maintains the largest U.S. nuclear talent pool. Bechtel has been leading the nuclear industry for over 70 years and has safely delivered 76 gigawatts of nuclear power. With our work at Vogtle Units 3 & 4, Bechtel is the only EPC contractor to successfully bring 21st-century nuclear plants online in the U.S.
Learn more about how Bechtel is helping customers around the world increase energy security and efficiency through next-generation energy sources: https://www.bechtel.com.
Bechtel in Nuclear Power
Bechtel has been leading the nuclear industry for over 70 years, designing and constructing critical projects worldwide. We have designed, built, or provided services for 150 nuclear plants worldwide, bringing more than 76,000 megawatts of new nuclear generation capacity online. With a proven track record, we work with customers to deploy a full range of reactor designs, including gigawatt-scale, small modular reactors, and advanced reactors, turning innovation into power generation. We offer integrated, full-service solutions from initial site selection to start-up, using the latest NQA-1 digital delivery tools that allow us to execute projects with certainty. We prioritize local suppliers to boost economies and currently have the largest U.S. nuclear talent pool to meet the high standards of nuclear construction.
About Bechtel
Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.
Bechtel serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Manufacturing & Technology; Mining & Metals; and Nuclear, Security & Environmental markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. https://www.bechtel.com
Reston, VA
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Bechtel Corporation published this content on April 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 23, 2026 at 16:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]