Lightbridge Completes Loading of Capsules Containing Lightbridge Fuel Material Samples into an Experiment Assembly for Irradiation Testing in the Advanced Test Reactor

RESTON, Va., Oct. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (Nasdaq: LTBR), a leader in advanced nuclear fuel technology, today announced the successful completion of the loading of capsules containing Lightbridge Fuel material samples comprised of enriched uranium‑zirconium alloy, recently manufactured at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), into an experiment assembly. The experiment assembly is now ready for insertion into the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) for irradiation testing which is expected to begin later this year.

Key highlights of this achievement include:

• Completion of Loading of Capsules into an Experiment Assembly: Lightbridge and INL teams successfully completed the loading of capsules into an experiment assembly containing enriched uranium‑zirconium alloy samples of Lightbridge fuel material produced at INL's Materials and Fuels Complex.
• Precision Manufacturing & Assembly Process: The enriched uranium-zirconium alloy coupon samples, matching the composition intended for Lightbridge’s future commercial Lightbridge Fuel product, were meticulously manufactured and loaded into capsules under stringent quality control and process validation protocols.
• Upcoming Irradiation Testing in ATR: The experiment assembly will be placed into a designated core position and subjected to irradiation testing at ATR in accordance with the existing Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Lightbridge and INL.
• Supporting Regulatory & Commercialization Efforts: The planned irradiation testing program, combined with post-irradiation examination activities to be outlined in a forthcoming Project Task Statement, will yield critical performance data needed to inform Lightbridge’s planned regulatory licensing activities and advance its commercial deployment efforts.

“We are proud to collaborate with Lightbridge on the assembly of this irradiation experiment,” said Jess Gehin, Associate Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science & Technology at Idaho National Laboratory. “This is an important step in testing and validating the performance of Lightbridge’s advanced fuel in a test reactor environment.”