X-energy, SGL Carbon to double nuclear-grade graphite output

X-energy and SGL Carbon announced a binding agreement on August 3 to double SGL's production capacity for NBG-18 medium-grain isotropic graphite, the specialized material used in the TRISO fuel pebbles and reflectors of X-energy's Xe-100 reactor. X-energy will invest up to $8 million in milestone payments toward new facilities and equipment at SGL's Chedde, France site, enough to supply graphite billets for up to 8 new Xe-100 reactors a year and double European NBG-18 capacity by 2030, building on a 10-year, over-$100 million supplier framework agreement signed in January 2026.