nuclear-news

Bechtel splits with Bill Gates-backed Natrium nuclear project, files layoff notice

Bechtel and TerraPower couldn’t agree on a way to move forward to the next phase of the project

The move impacts about 200 employees at the company’s Reston, Virginia-based headquarters, according to a WARN notice the firm filed with the state.

Construction Dive  Sept. 18, 2026, Matthew Thibault

Dive Brief:

• Bechtel, one of the largest contractors in the U.S. by revenue, has moved on from work on nuclear energy firm TerraPower’s high-profile Natrium Demonstration Project in Kemmerer, Wyoming, and plans to lay off approximately 200 employees, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with the state of Virginia. 
• The split occurred as Bechtel and TerraPower couldn’t agree on a way to move forward to the next phase of the project, per the WARN notice.
• The affected employees will be laid off on or around Nov. 16, according to the notice. Bechtel will aim to help these employees find new positions on other projects, which may reduce the total number of laid-off workers. For those who don’t find other positions, the layoffs will be permanent.

Dive Insight:

The Natrium Demonstration Project is an advanced nuclear reactor that uses sodium as a coolant instead of water. Bechtel broke ground on the project in 2024 for TerraPower, which is chaired by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. It began construction on Unit 1 in 2026, according to the contractor.

On Aug. 31, TerraPower announced 12 new supplier awards for the project, according to a news release. 

Molly Edwards, head of global media relations for Bechtel, told Construction Dive via email that the firm planned to move many of the impacted employees to other nuclear projects in its worldwide construction portfolio………………………………… https://www.constructiondive.com/news/bechtel-splits-terrapower-nuclear-project-layoffs/830793/

September 23, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs