Fuel ‘urgently needed’ for next generation of nuclear reactors
Centrus Energy subsidiary American Centrifuge Operating has produced and delivered 900 kg of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (Haleu) to the US Department of Energy, reaching a critical milestone as the company pioneers first-of-a-kind production of the fuel that will be needed for many next-generation nuclear power plants.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Centrus said that with the production and delivery of the 900 kg, it has achieved the production target for Phase II of its contract with the DOE and to date has produced and delivered over 920 kg of Haleu to the DOE.
“Achievement of this milestone further demonstrates the ability of our technology to deliver results for our customers and for the nation,” said Centrus Energy president and chief executive officer Amir Vexler.
“As the only source of Haleu enrichment in the Western world, our product is urgently needed to power the next generation of reactors.”
Centrus will now proceed to Haleu enrichment production under Phase III of its contract with the DOE. On 20 June, Centrus announced that it had secured a contract extension from the DOE for an additional year of production until 30 June 2026 as part of Phase III.
In 2019, the DOE awarded Centrus a contract licence and construct a cascade of advanced centrifuges to demonstrate Haleu production at the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio.
In 2022, Centrus won a three-phase follow-on contract to bring the cascade into production and deliver Haleu for the DOE’s use.
Centrus completed Phase I of the contract in late 2023 by launching enrichment operations and demonstrating first-of-a-kind Haleu production with the delivery of 20 kg of Haleu.
Phase II of the contract called for Centrus to produce an additional 900 kg of Haleu by 30 June.
Phase III includes options for up to eight years of additional production beyond 30 June 2026.
Vexler said the company is delivering meaningful quantities of Haleu to catalyse a new generation of reactors, while laying the groundwork to establish a large-scale, US-owned uranium enrichment capability to meet the US’s commercial and national security requirements.
Background: Ending Dependence On Russia
The US government has been concerned for several years that Russia has a monopoly on Haleu manufacturing. Washington has taken steps to incentivise the development of domestic production.
In October 2024, four companies – Centrus Energy, Urenco USA, Orano USA and General Matter – were awarded contracts to produce Haleu in the US.
Deliveries from Russia are set to end in 2028 under a 2024 ban.
Haleu is a type of nuclear fuel that is enriched to a higher level than the uranium used in most current reactors, but still below the level considered highly enriched.
This higher enrichment level allows for more efficient and potentially smaller reactor designs, particularly in advanced reactor technologies like small modular reactors.
In April the DOE announced conditional commitments to supply Haleu to five domestic nuclear developers to meet their short-term fuel needs.
