LIGHTBRIDGE Corp (LTBR)

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is intended to help the reader understand Lightbridge Corporation, our operations, and our present business environment. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as those included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.

As discussed in more detail under “Forward-Looking Statements” preceding this MD&A, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, and projections, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties inherent in future events, including those set forth under “Forward-Looking Statements” and Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors included herein.

Overview of Our Business and Recent Developments Regarding Lightbridge Fuel™

When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the terms “Lightbridge,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Lightbridge Corporation together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Thorium Power Inc.

Our Business

At Lightbridge, we are developing advanced metallic nuclear fuel for existing and new water-cooled reactors designed to improve the economics and safety of existing and new nuclear power plants and enhance proliferation resistance of spent nuclear fuel while supplying clean energy to the electric grid or to “behind the meter” customers for electric power, including data centers. We believe our metallic fuel could offer significant economic and safety benefits over traditional nuclear fuel, primarily because of the superior heat transfer properties and the resulting lower operating temperature of our all-metal fuel.

We believe our metallic fuel can be used in different types of water-cooled commercial power reactors, such as pressurized water reactors, boiling-water reactors, Russian-designed water-cooled commercial power reactors, Canada Deuterium Uranium heavy water reactors, water-cooled small modular reactors, and water-cooled research reactors. We have obtained patent validation in key countries that we believe would have a commercial market for our fuel and will continue to seek patent validation in countries that either currently operate or are expected to build and operate a large number of nuclear power reactors compatible with our fuel technology.

Commercialization Outlook and Key Drivers of Timing

The Company believes long-term industry trends continue to support investment in advanced nuclear technologies. Growing demand for reliable electricity, including demand associated with artificial intelligence computing, hyperscale data centers, electrification, advanced manufacturing, and energy security initiatives, has significantly increased interest in expanding nuclear generation and improving the performance of existing reactors. Advances in reactor technology, combined with growing corporate and governmental support for nuclear energy, can position nuclear power as a cornerstone of future energy strategies for data-intensive industries, which recent evidence suggests may be willing to pay a premium for reliable, clean, and sustainable baseload electricity. The Company believes these trends may increase the long-term market opportunities for advanced nuclear fuel technologies designed to improve reactor economics, increase power output, and enhance operational flexibility. Accordingly, the Company's current research, engineering, manufacturing planning, and strategic collaborations are focused on advancing the technical and commercial readiness of Lightbridge Fuel™ to address these long-term market opportunities.

The long-term milestones marking progress towards development and commercialization of nuclear fuel assemblies include, among other matters, irradiating nuclear material samples and prototype fuel rods with enriched uranium in test reactors, conducting post-irradiation examination of irradiated material samples and/or prototype fuel rods, performing thermal-hydraulic experiments, performing seismic and other out-of-reactor experiments, performing advanced computer modeling and simulations to support fuel qualification, designing a lead test assembly (LTA), entering into one or more lead test rod/assembly agreements with host reactors, demonstrating the production process of the fuel including lead test rods and/or LTAs, and demonstrating the operation of lead test rods and/or LTAs in commercial reactors.

There are inherent uncertainties in the cost and outcomes of the many steps needed for successful deployment of Lightbridge Fuel™ in commercial nuclear reactors, which makes it difficult to accurately predict the timing of the commercialization of our nuclear fuel technology. Our ultimate commercial model remains under evaluation and may evolve as our fuel development progresses, regulatory pathways are further clarified, and commercial partnerships are further established. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors—“Risks Related to Our Business and to the Commercialization of Lightbridge Fuel™” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.

Development of a Pilot-Scale Facility and Future Lightbridge Expandable Fuel Facility

The Company is evaluating a potential site location and developing a conceptual design for a Lightbridge Expandable Fuel Facility (LEFF) to support the possible future fabrication of Lightbridge Fuel™ for use in commercial reactors. The Company also continually evaluates a variety of strategic opportunities that could accelerate the commercialization of its advanced nuclear fuel technology, including the potential establishment of a pilot-scale fuel fabrication capability to support the future manufacture of LTAs.

In connection with these efforts, the Company may decide, from time to time, to apply to programs available through various governmental agencies that offer funding, regulatory flexibility, or other support related to the advancement of its nuclear fuel technology. Such programs may require significant capital investment and could materially increase research and development activities, capital expenditures, manufacturing capabilities and staffing over the next several years. For example, the Company recently submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) seeking authorization and collaboration through the agency’s Nuclear Energy Launch Pad program relating to such a pilot-scale fuel fabrication capability. The requested authorization, if obtained and ultimately pursued by the Company, could enable earlier fabrication and testing of LTAs and accelerate the Company's commercialization timeline.

The construction of a pilot-scale facility could commence as early as 2027, subject to various factors, including those described below. This initiative would represent a significant potential expansion of the Company’s operations beyond its current R&D activities. While the scope, timing, and cost of constructing such a facility cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, the Company expects that the capital required to design, license, and construct any pilot-scale facility or LEFF would be substantial. The timing, amount, and sources of any related financing activities will depend on a number of factors, including the progress of the Company’s development programs, regulatory considerations, market conditions, and the availability of strategic partnerships or other funding sources. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain such financing on acceptable terms, or at all, nor can there be any assurance that the Company will pursue the construction of the fabrication facility.

Recent Developments Regarding Lightbridge Fuel™

Reconstitution of the Nuclear Utility Fuel Advisory Board

In June 2026, the Company launched a reconstituted Nuclear Utility Fuel Advisory Board, which is intended to provide the Company with input directly from utility industry representatives regarding fuel development priorities, licensing considerations, deployment strategies, operational requirements, and commercialization planning.

The advisory board serves in an advisory capacity only and does not constitute a commitment by any participant to purchase, license, deploy, or otherwise utilize the Company's fuel technology.

Updates to Idaho National Laboratory Agreements

In 2022, the Company entered into agreements with Batelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) operating contractor for Idaho National Laboratory (INL), to support the development of Lightbridge Fuel™. The framework agreements consist of an “umbrella” Strategic Partnership Project Agreement (SPPA) and an “umbrella” Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), each with BEA. The Company continues to perform work under its SPPA and CRADA with BEA, as previously described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. The Company periodically updates project scopes, schedules and cost estimates using a rolling wave planning approach for project management purposes on the released scopes of work. It is an iterative planning technique in which the work to be accomplished in the near term is planned in detail, while work further in the future is planned at a higher level. As such, periodic revisions to the scope and/or cost estimates are anticipated.

Other Updates to the SPPA and CRADA

In June 2026, the Company entered into Modification No. 5 to CRADA Project Task Statement (PTS) No.1 with BEA to increase the total estimated reimbursable cost by approximately $1.1 million, bringing the total estimated cost for the work to be performed under CRADA PTS No.1 to $5.4 million.

In April 2026, the Company entered into SPPA PTS No. 6 to support the development of coextruded fuel rod components for future irradiation testing. This program builds on prior INL fabrication work and is intended to further refine manufacturing processes and materials necessary to produce fuel rods and rodlets in their final cross-sectional configurations. Initial process development activities will be conducted using depleted uranium, with the expectation that, upon successful demonstration, these processes may be applied to enriched uranium to produce fuel rod segments for irradiation experiments at test reactors, including the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). The program is expected to help bridge the transition from earlier-stage fabrication development and initial coupon fuel material samples currently undergoing irradiation testing in the ATR to the production of irradiation rod segment test specimens. The scope of work includes enhancements to fabrication processes and equipment, development and testing of key materials (including central displacer alloys and cladding behavior), and validation of coextrusion techniques for both cylindrical and multi-lobe fuel designs. The program also includes preparation of fuel rod segment specimens, including those with controlled defects, to support non-destructive evaluation calibration and irradiation testing. The total estimated cost of SPPA PTS No.6 is approximately $4.6 million over an expected performance period of 36 months. Costs are incurred on a reimbursable basis, with advance and monthly funding provided by the Company. The Company is not obligated to continue work beyond the estimated cost wit

[Excerpt truncated for page length; source filing is linked above.]

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, or MD&A, is intended to help the reader understand Lightbridge Corporation, our operations, and our present business environment. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes thereto, which are contained in Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

As discussed in more detail under “Forward-Looking Statements” preceding this MD&A, the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, and projections, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties inherent in future events, including those set forth under “Forward-Looking Statements” and Part I. Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Overview of Our Business and Recent Developments of Lightbridge Fuel™

Our Business

At Lightbridge, we are developing next generation nuclear fuel for water-cooled reactors that could significantly improve the economics and safety of existing and new nuclear power plants and enhance proliferation resistance of spent nuclear fuel while supplying clean energy to the electric grid or to “behind the meter” customers for electric power, including data centers. We believe our metallic fuel could offer significant economic and safety benefits over traditional nuclear fuel, primarily because of the superior heat transfer properties and the resulting lower operating temperature of our all-metal fuel. Data centers will need massive, constant power that we believe nuclear power can provide. Advances in reactor technology, combined with growing corporate and governmental support for clean energy, can position nuclear power as a cornerstone of future energy strategies for data-intensive industries, which may be willing to pay a premium for reliable, clean, and sustainable baseload electricity.

We believe our metallic fuel can be used in different types of water-cooled commercial power reactors, such as PWRs, BWRs, VVERs, CANDUs, water-cooled SMRs, and water-cooled research reactors. We have obtained patent validation in key countries that we believe would have a commercial market for our fuel and will continue to seek patent validation in countries that either currently operate or are expected to build and operate a large number of nuclear power reactors compatible with our fuel technology.

Recent Developments of Lightbridge Fuel™

Memorandum of Understanding with Oklo, Inc.

In January 2025, we signed a MOU with Oklo to: (1) conduct a preliminary evaluation of feasibility of co-locating a Lightbridge Commercial-scale Fuel Fabrication Facility at Oklo’s proposed commercial fuel fabrication facility; (2) explore opportunities for collaboration on reprocessing and recycling of spent uranium zirconium fuel; and (3) explore any other areas of collaboration that may be of mutual interest. We believe there may be some potential synergies in co-locating our expandable fuel facility at Oklo’s proposed site. We also believe that recycling and reprocessing spent uranium-zirconium fuel may represent another area of potential synergies.

Master Services Agreement with Amentum Technology Inc.

In December 2025, the Company entered into a MSA with Amentum relating to the performance of activities by Amentum in support of the co-location feasibility study under the MOU with Oklo, as well as other activities as the Company and Amentum may agree from time to time. In January 2026, we entered into a statement of work under our MSA with Amentum pursuant to which we expect to incur approximately $0.4 million in costs during 2026 related to the Oklo co-location feasibility study.

Memorandum of Understanding and Collaborative Agreement for Cladding Alloy Compositions

In November 2025, Lightbridge entered into an MOU and a separate Collaboration Agreement with a U.S. manufacturer specializing in advanced specialty metals to support the research and development of cladding alloy compositions for potential use as cladding materials for Lightbridge Fuel™. Under the MOU, the parties agreed to pursue a phased technical evaluation program beginning with alloy development, melting, processing, and characterization activities (Phase 1). The Collaboration Agreement governs the conduct of Phase 1 research and provides a framework for developing future project plans. Lightbridge expects to incur approximately $0.3 million in Phase 1 costs in 2026, which will be expensed as incurred and included in research and development expenses.

Idaho National Laboratory Agreements

As noted under Part I. Item 1. Business, we entered into agreements with BEA to support the development of Lightbridge Fuel™. The framework agreements consist of an “umbrella” SPPA and an “umbrella” CRADA, each with BEA.

During 2025, previous task statements under both the SPPA and CRADA were modified to increase potential amounts payable to BEA. The duration of the umbrella SPPA was also extended from 7 to 12 years, and the performance period of the umbrella CRADA was extended from September 27, 2029 to September 27, 2032. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company and BEA entered into several new project task statements under the SPPA for BEA to provide technical consultation on drafting a fuel qualification plan, post-irradiation examination of fuel specimens, and code development for safety analysis and fuel performance modeling.

After accounting for all modifications and new project task statements, cash payments from the Company to BEA under both CRADA and SPPA are estimated at approximately $19.5 million on a cost reimbursable basis over the performance periods. During 2025, we expensed $2.9 million of costs reimbursable to BEA, resulting in cumulative expenses of $5.4 million recorded to date and $14.1 million remaining in future cost reimbursements, if and when incurred by BEA.

The successful execution of this project is subject to risks, including potential delays, cost overruns, regulatory challenges, and changes in funding availability, and if the project scope does increase, then the project will be successfully executed or completed. Regardless of whether further project modifications occur, INL has indicated to the Company that due to resource and manufacturing equipment constraints, INL may not be able to meet the Company’s preferred project timeline, and that the total project cost will exceed the current budget.

Purchase of High-Performance Computer for Fuel Modeling

During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company completed the purchase of a HPC. The HPC is specifically configured for advanced nuclear modeling and requires specialized software and environmental conditions and provides a significant expansion of computational capability necessary for us to continue developing and simulating the viability of our nuclear fuel technology. To support the HPC, the Company also entered into agreements with additional vendors to provide co-location services, hardware/software management services, and additional nuclear simulation software. Costs for the HPC and related services and software are expensed as incurred and included in research and development expenses. Such items totaled approximately $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2025.

Software Code Development Agreements

In October 2025, we entered into an Agreement for Safety Analysis Codes and Services for Lightbridge Fuel Designs with NAS, a provider of nuclear engineering analysis software. Under the agreement, NAS will perform code-development, benchmarking, and modeling services to support the creation of Lightbridge’s proprietary fuel-safety analysis methods and the adaptation of industry-standard computer codes for the Lightbridge Fuel™ helical-cruciform metallic U-Zr design. The estimated completion window is between October 2026 through January 2027. The total contract value is approximately $0.8 million, with milestone-based payments. The resulting software and analysis models will be owned by Lightbridge and are expected to strengthen Lightbridge’s internal capability to perform reactor safety analyses in support of future regulatory submissions and commercial fuel demonstrations.

In December 2025, we also entered into an agreement with Studsvik Scandpower, a provider of nuclear fuel management software, to develop a transport methodology based on their existing software that will model the Lightbridge Fuel™ concept variant. We would need to separately purchase a license to this updated software after it has been developed to meet Lightbridge’s specifications. The total contract value for development of the code is approximately $0.3 million, payable upon the completion of work, expected in mid-2026.

Costs for software code development are expensed as incurred and included in research and development expenses. However, work on these arrangements is in the preliminary stages or has not yet begun, and no expenses were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2025.

Critical Heat Flux Test Program

In February 2026, we entered into an initial engineering contract and statement of work with an organization providing specialized experimental services to assess the thermal and hydraulic (TH) performance of Lightbridge Fuel™ for use in water-cooled reactors. The experimental program will be carried out in phases and include: the design and fabrication of an electrically heated fuel simulator and its acceptance testing, nine-rod PWR critical heat flux tests, with an option for the Company to also choose to conduct nine-rod BWR critical power tests, a full scale TH test program to support the U.S. licensing of Lightbridge Fuel™ in commercial PWRs, and an option for the Company to also choose to conduct a full scale TH thermal test program to support the U.S. licensing of Lightbridge Fuel™ in commercial BWRs. Phase 1 work includes prototype fuel simulator design, fabrication, and acceptance testing and is estimated to take one year to complete and cost approximately $0.5 million.

Romania Feasibility Study of Lightbridge Fuel™ for use in CANDU reactors

As noted under Part I. Item 1. Business, we engaged RATEN ICN in Romania to perform an engineering study to assess the compatibility and suitability of Lightbridge Fuel™ for use in CANDU reactors. The findings from this engineering study will play an important role in guiding future economic evaluations and navigating potential regulatory licensing-related issues for potential use of Lightbridge Fuel™ in CANDU reactors. In August 2025, we entered into the 2025 RATEN ICN Agreement to evaluate conducting irradiation test(s) for several Lightbridge Fuel™ rodlets. The 2025 RATEN ICN Agreement provides for two phases: in Phase 1, RATEN ICN was to conduct scoping studies to develop preliminary experiment designs, evaluate infrastructure and equipment needs, and obtain cost and schedule estimates for potential new driver fuel, and in Phase 2, if the results of Phase 1 were acceptable to Lightbridge, RATEN ICN would implement refurbishments, procure equipment and driver fuel as needed, finalize experiment design, fabricate and operate the test assembly, and complete post-irradiation examination. Lightbridge would be responsible for supplying experimental fuel rodlets for use in the irradiation tests. The Phase 1 work was completed as of December 31, 2025. The Company is currently evaluating the results of the Phase 1 work. No decision has been made abou

[Excerpt truncated for page length; the complete text is on the linked full-MD&A page.]