Bill Gates-backed nuclear power firm runs into trouble over Russia-sourced fuel

A BILL Gates supported-nuclear power player is concerned it may miss out on government approval to build projects in the UK with questions over its fuel source.

Terrapower, one of the contenders in the race to build small modular reactors in the UK, confirmed its intention earlier this year to enter the competition to build scaled-down power plants in the UK.

However, there is a row brewing between Terrapower and the government over its use of a uranium fuel source which is chiefly sourced from Russia, according to The Sunday Times.

Whitehall officials are concerned there are insufficient supplies to import at scale to meet demand for Terrapower reactors, as most of the uranium it needs is produced in Russia - which is under sanctions following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The company now fears exclusion from the race to build the next generation of reactors, with the group also in competition with GEHitachi and Newcleo for projects in an increasingly crowded field.

Terrapower was founded in 2006 by Gates, the co-creator of Microsoft and the world's fifth richest man. Gates led a £588.3m funding round for the nuclear project last year and remains its biggest investor.

When approached for comment, a government spokesperson said: "Great British Nuclear is assessing the bids received as part of the latest phase of the competition launched earlier this year and will announce an update in due course."

Terrapower was contacted for comment.