LIS Technologies, a partner of Nano Nuclear Energy Inc., secured a Radioactive Material License from the State of Tennessee on December 23, 2025. The license authorizes LIS to procure uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) feedstock and operate a demo test‑loop facility at the historic Oak Ridge K‑25 site, a former Manhattan Project enrichment plant.
The approval is a key regulatory milestone that unlocks LIS’s patented laser‑enrichment technology. By gaining access to UF₆, LIS can advance its laser isotope separation process, which promises higher energy efficiency and lower operating costs than traditional centrifuge or diffusion methods. The demo loop will allow the company to test enrichment at scale, validate process economics, and generate data needed for future commercial deployment.
For Nano Nuclear Energy, the license is a critical enabler of its vertically integrated fuel‑cycle strategy. The company plans to use LIS’s enriched UF₆ to produce both low‑enriched uranium (LEU) and high‑assay low‑enriched uranium (HALEU). HALEU, enriched to 5–20 % U‑235, is required for many advanced reactor designs, including Nano Nuclear’s micro‑reactor platforms—KRONOS, ODIN, ZEUS, and LOKI. By securing a domestic source of enriched fuel, Nano Nuclear reduces reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthens its supply chain resilience.
The K‑25 site’s historical significance adds strategic weight to the development. Originally built for gaseous‑diffusion enrichment during the Manhattan Project, the facility’s repurposing for laser enrichment signals a modern continuation of U.S. nuclear fuel processing. The state license also positions LIS to potentially meet future federal regulatory approvals, such as those from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, needed for commercial‑scale enrichment and fuel fabrication.
This regulatory approval aligns with broader U.S. policy to expand domestic HALEU production. In December 2024, LIS was selected by the Department of Energy for the Low‑Enriched Uranium Enrichment Acquisition Program, underscoring its role in national fuel security. The new license therefore dovetails with federal initiatives to reduce dependence on foreign nuclear materials.
Overall, the license represents a tangible step toward a fully integrated U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain, enabling both LIS and Nano Nuclear to accelerate the deployment of advanced micro‑reactors and to meet growing demand for domestic HALEU and LEU.
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