Fermi America advances Texas nuclear campus planning with Hyundai partnership

Texas-based energy developer Fermi America is progressing front-end engineering design work for Project Matador, an 11-gigawatt private nuclear energy campus outside Amarillo, through a strategic partnership with South Korean contractor Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., aiming to restart large-scale nuclear construction in the United States after decades of stalled activity.

PR Newswire reported that Fermi America participated in Hyundai E&C's Large-Scale Nuclear Technology Seminar in Dallas on 10 February, bringing together leaders from US construction and nuclear sectors for sessions on building large-scale nuclear projects. The event engaged Texas and national contractors to strengthen supply chain readiness and align industry partners around execution demands of next-generation nuclear development.

Toby Neugebauer, chief executive and co-founder of Fermi America, said few companies are positioned to deliver nuclear projects in the United States, with Project Matador representing one of the only schemes with a construction licence accepted for review, active Nuclear Regulatory Commission engagement and a characterised site ready for construction this year.

Neugebauer emphasised that Hyundai represents the only global company to have successfully built 24 nuclear reactors, ten simultaneously, on time and on budget. He noted their expertise and financial commitment, together with Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology, positions the American nuclear sector for renewed activity with potential Department of Energy and Department of Commerce support.

Mesut Uzman, chief nuclear construction officer of Fermi America, said AI-driven load growth is accelerating faster than anticipated, with the next decade defined by organisations capable of building power infrastructure rapidly enough to support AI and industrial expansion. He described the Hyundai partnership as critical to rebuilding US energy capacity.

View the details on the complete technical specifications and project timeline for the Amarillo nuclear campus.