DOE HALEU NEWS from...

DOE HALEU NEWS from Centrus

https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/centrus-reaches-900-kilogram-mark-haleu-production

Meeting the Mark

The Department contracted with Centrus subsidiary American Centrifuge Operating in 2019 to construct a cascade of 16 advanced centrifuges in Piketon, Ohio to demonstrate HALEU production. In November 2022, the company was later awarded a follow-on contract to start up the cascade and begin HALEU production for the Department’s use.

The company started enriching uranium hexafluoride gas into HALEU in 2023 to deliver the nation’s first 20 kgs of material and were then tasked with producing 900 kgs by the end of June 2025.

The material will be used as part of the Department’s HALEU allocation process to support the fuel qualification and testing of advanced reactor designs.

The Piketon plant is currently the only facility in the United States licensed to enrich uranium up to 19.75 percent and is the first U.S. owned plant to start enrichment production since the 1950s.

“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 CEO 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.

“This HALEU demonstration project is critical to the Department’s efforts to ensure there is enough HALEU material to meet the near-term needs of our industry partners as they work to turn on their advanced reactors for the first time,” said Mike Goff, Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy. “It’s also an important step in rebuilding the nation’s nuclear fuel supply chain as directed by President Trump’s recent executive orders to expand America’s Dominance agenda.”

The Department has extended its contract with Centrus to produce an additional 900 kgs over the next year to help support the near-term needs of industry.

Advanced centrifuge cascade in Piketon, OH.

Centrus Energy Corp.

The Need for HALEU

HALEU is uranium enriched greater than 5 and less than 20 weight percent U-235, which increases the amount of fissile material in the fuel. Most advanced reactor designs require HALEU to achieve smaller designs, longer operating cycles, and increased efficiencies over current technologies.  

There is currently no commercial source of HALEU in the Unted States, which is why President Trump is taking decisive action through recent executive orders to help rebuild a secure and sovereign domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.

In addition to this demonstration project, DOE is supporting several efforts to provide more access to HALEU.

Current activities include recycling spent nuclear fuel from government-owned research reactors and competitive awards to incentivize commercial HALEU production and private investment in the nation’s nuclear fuel supply infrastructure.