A nuclear fuel manufacturing company explained Wednesday why it required nondisclosure agreements with Gillette city officials before discussing a proposed facility that could bring more than 200 jobs to Campbell County.

Joshua Parker, director of business development for BWXT Advanced Technologies, said the company needed confidentiality agreements to protect commercially sensitive information about the size and scope of its proposed TRISO fuel fabrication facility.

TRISO fuel consists of tiny uranium particles covered in protective layers of silicon carbide materials and formed into spheres or rod-like compacts for use in advanced nuclear reactors. Demand for this fuel, according to BWXT, will likely surge in the coming years.

"What we're seeing is the market's going to take off in

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