Former Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Executive Yasushi Fukuizumi Joins ZettaJoule, KK as Deputy CEO

– Driving the Launch of the World’s First Global HTGR Fleet –

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZettaJoule, KK (Office: Tokyo; CEO: Mitsuo Shimofuji), a subsidiary of U.S.-based ZettaJoule, Inc., today announced the appointment of Yasushi Fukuizumi as Deputy CEO, effective April 23, 2025. ZettaJoule is pioneering the deployment of High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs) as the foundation for next-generation decentralized energy systems.

Mr. Fukuizumi joins ZettaJoule after a distinguished career at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, where he served as Administrative Executive Officer and Senior Executive Fellow, leading the Energy Systems domain. A recognized global authority in gas turbine technologies and a former President of the Gas Turbine Society of Japan, he brings decades of leadership experience in business strategy, project execution, and M&A.

His appointment strengthens ZettaJoule’s leadership team as the company prepares to unveil its first U.S. HTGR project and accelerate the global rollout of advanced energy solutions.

• Comment from Yasushi Fukuizumi

"Amid the global shift toward decarbonization, ensuring a stable energy supply that can reliably meet demand is vital for the sustainable growth of all economic and social activities. In my previous role, I was deeply engaged in exploring what constitutes an environmentally responsible, economically viable, and sustainable energy system. I believe the expertise I gained in evaluating highly efficient, cost-effective, and dependable energy systems can also be leveraged to advance the development of safer High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGRs). I am excited to see how Japan’s cultivated strengths—its world-class products, manufacturing excellence, and exceptional talent—can contribute to addressing global energy challenges."

• About ZettaJoule

ZettaJoule is a U.S.-based clean energy startup focused on leveraging Japan’s proven HTGR technology to build decentralized, carbon-free energy infrastructure. Since its full-scale launch in 2024, the company has assembled a world-class team, including experts from:

• Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), X-energy, Westinghouse, Centrus, Idaho National Laboratory, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, and Areva
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
• Sumitomo Corporation, Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Deutsche Bank, Deloitte, and KPMG

ZettaJoule is pursuing the world's first commercial global fleet of HTGRs to drive decarbonization and strengthen energy security.

• About HTGRs

HTGRs are advanced reactors offering exceptional inherent safety and high-temperature outputs (up to 950°C in the case of the operating Japanese reference plant). Beyond power generation, HTGRs enable applications such as:

• Industrial process heat
• Hydrogen, ammonia, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production
• District heating and seawater desalination

HTGRs are increasingly seen as a critical technology for deep decarbonization across industrial sectors and among advanced technology and major oil/gas companies.

• About ZettaJoule, Inc.

• Established: August 2023
• Headquarters: Rockville, Maryland (We are planning to move our headquarters to Houston, Texas.)
• Subsidiary: ZettaJoule, KK
• Investors: Globis Capital Partners, Coral Capital, Archetype Ventures, SOSV, etc.
• Vision: Shape the future with sustainable energy solutions
• Mission: Deploy the first global fleet of Advanced Reactors