Terrestrial Energy Selected for DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Advanced Reactor Pilot Program for Accelerated Development
Advanced Reactor Pilot Program launched by DOE to expedite authorization and commercialization of advanced nuclear reactor designs
Terrestrial Energy's selection set to accelerate Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) plant commercialization plans while advancing Administration plans to reform and streamline licensing and national laboratory processes for reactor testing
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terrestrial Energy Inc., a developer of small modular nuclear power plants using Generation IV reactor technology, today announced that its Project TETRA proposal has been selected for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy's Advanced Reactor Pilot Program. DOE's selection represents a significant milestone in Terrestrial Energy's commercialization pathway, leveraging the program's fast-track approach to advance the licensing and deployment of the company's proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology.
The Advanced Reactor Pilot Program, established as part of President Trump's Executive Order 14301 in May, creates a new DOE pathway to fast-track commercial licensing activities for small and modular nuclear plants that use advanced reactor technologies, expediting their broad deployment. Project TETRA includes the completion of key testing that is essential to support licensing applications for the construction and operation of commercial IMSR plants in the U.S. Relying on the company's U.S. supply chain partners, the project aims to achieve reactor criticality by July 4th, 2026, positioning Terrestrial Energy's IMSR technology at the forefront of America's nuclear renaissance.
"President Trump's Reactor Pilot Program is a call to action," said Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly. "These companies aim to all safely achieve criticality by Independence Day, and DOE will do everything we can to support their efforts."
"We are pleased to have been selected by the DOE for this important project, which will help the U.S. win the race to energy dominance that is now so important for competitive commercial AI and the re-shoring of U.S. manufacturing," said Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy. "Our selection for the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program fast-tracks key elements of IMSR design development and advances our program of fleet scale deployment of our IMSR Plant."
Terrestrial Energy's IMSR plant's unique design characteristics make it ideally suited to meet the rapidly growing demand for clean, reliable, and flexible energy supply across multiple industrial sectors including, industrial heat and power users, and data center and electric grid operators. Its use of molten salt reactor technology and 822 MWth / 390 MWe capacity facilitates high-temperature thermal energy supply for high-efficiency steam turbine operation and low cost electricity, as well as direct supply to industrial heat processes, from near-located sites, reducing reliance on critical transmission infrastructure and supporting grid reliability.
The components and materials used in the IMSR plant are drawn heavily from the US supply chains, supporting US manufacturing across multiple states. IMSR plant use of low-cost, readily available Standard-Assay Low Enriched Uranium (LEU enriched to under 5% U235) fuel is a distinguishing characteristic representing another key advantage supporting fast IMSR plant commercialization; the IMSR plant avoids the substantial supply challenges associated with the use of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium fuel (HALEU, enriched to between 15% and 20% U235), which have been exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and the current lack of commercial-scale supply in the US.
About Terrestrial Energy
Terrestrial Energy is a developer of Generation IV nuclear plants that use its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR). The IMSR captures the full transformative operating benefits of molten salt reactor technology in a plant design that represents true innovation in cost reduction, versatility and functionality of nuclear energy supply. IMSR plants are designed to be small and modular for distributed supply of zero-carbon, reliable, dispatchable, low-cost, high-temperature industrial heat and electricity, and for a dual-use energy role relevant to many industrial applications, such as chemical synthesis and data center operation. In so doing, they extend the application of nuclear energy far beyond electric power markets. Their deployment will support the rapid global decarbonization of the primary energy system across a broad spectrum and increase its sustainability. Terrestrial Energy uses an innovative plant design together with proven and demonstrated molten salt reactor technology and standard nuclear fuel for a nuclear plant with a unique set of operating characteristics and compelling commercial potential. Terrestrial Energy is engaged with regulators, suppliers and industrial partners to build, license and commission the first IMSR plants in the early 2030s.
On March 26, 2025, Terrestrial Energy and HCM II Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:HOND) announced that they have entered into a definitive Business Combination Agreement for a business combination (the "Business Combination") that would result in the combined Company (Terrestrial Energy) to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol "IMSR".
Important Information for Shareholders
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or constitute a solicitation of any vote or approval.
In connection with the business combination, HCM II and Terrestrial Energy will file with the SEC registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement"), which will include a preliminary prospectus of HCM II relating to the offer of securities to be issued in connection with the business combination, and a preliminary proxy statement of HCM II to be distributed to holders of HCM II's capital shares in connection with HCM II's solicitation of proxies for vote by HCM II's shareholders with respect to the Business Combination and other matters described in the Registration Statement HCM II and Terrestrial Energy also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the business combination. After the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the shareholders of HCM II and Terrestrial Energy. INVESTORS OF HCM II AND TERRESTRIAL ENERGY ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CONTAINED THEREIN (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS COMBINATION THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION.
Investors will be able to obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about HCM II and Terrestrial Energy once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the documents filed by HCM II may be obtained free of charge from HCM II's website at https://hcmacquisition.com/ or by written request to HCM II at 100 First Stamford Place, Suite 330 Stamford, CT 06902.
Participants in the Solicitation
HCM II and Company, and their respective directors and executive officers, may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the potential transaction described in this communication under the rules of the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of HCM II is set forth in HCM II's filings with the SEC. Information regarding other persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders in connection with the potential transaction and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be set forth in the Registration Statement (and will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus) and other relevant documents when they are filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
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The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on HCM II and the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting HCM II and the Company will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date this press release is actually delivered and involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the definitive agreements with respect to the Business Combination; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against HCM II, the Company, the combined company or others following the announcement of the Business Combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (3) the inability to complete the Business Combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of HCM II or the SEC's declaration of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (which will include the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein) to be filed by HCM II and the Company or to satisfy other conditions to closing; (4) changes to the proposed structure of the Business Combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the Business Combination; (5) the ability of HCM II to meet stock exchange listing standards following the consummation of the Business Combination; (6) the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations of the Company as a result of the announcement and consummation of the Business Combination; (7) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; (8) costs related to the Business Combination, including the reorganization described in the business combination agreement; (9) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (10) the possibility that the Company or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (11) the amount of redemption requests made by HCM II shareholders and (12) other risk factors described herein as well as the risk factors and uncertainties described in that certain prospectus of HCM II dated August 15, 2024 and the HCM II's other filings with the SEC, as well as any further risks and uncertainties to be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus filed after the date hereof. In addition, there may be additional risks that neither HCM II or Company presently know, or that HCM II or Company currently believe are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this communication should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.
None of HCM II, the Company, any placement agent nor any of their respective affiliates, officers, employees or agents, makes any representation or warranty, either express or implied, in relation to the fairness, reasonableness, adequacy, accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information, statements or opinions, whichever their source, contained in this press release or any oral information provided in connection herewith, or any data it generates and accept no responsibility, obligation or liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) in relation to any of such information. HCM II, the Company and their respective affiliates, officers, employees and agents further expressly disclaim any and all liability relating to or resulting from the use of this press release and any errors therein or omissions therefrom. Further, the information contained herein is preliminary, is provided for discussion purposes only, is only a summary of key information, is not complete and is subject to change without notice.
In addition, the information contained in this press release is provided as of the date hereof and may change, and neither HCM II nor the Company undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, inaccuracies, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Terrestrial Energy Investor Center:
https://www.terrestrialenergy.com/investors
Terrestrial Energy Media & Investor Contact:
HCM II Investor Contact:
HCM II Acquisition Corp.
Steven Bischoff
[email protected]
(203) 930-2200
