Understanding & Solving HALEU Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain...

Understanding & Solving HALEU Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Challenges.

A very interesting and informative webinar that was held on Jan 8th 2022, worth watching.

More than a half dozen advanced reactor designs are moving forward through the design, development and deployment lifecycle in the U.S. The first of these advanced reactors will be constructed in the 2027/2028 timeframe, with other deployments following thereafter. Many of the advanced reactor designs require High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) as their fuel type. Currently, there is no existing fuel processing facility in the United States that can supply this fuel and the alternative is to procure the fuel from other countries, such as Russia.

Recognizing this precarious situation, the Department of Energy and private partners have begun to explore options for developing a robust HALEU production capability in the U.S. Dozens, if not hundreds, of advanced reactors, could be deployed across the county in the coming decades, so the urgency and scale of developing a HALEU fuel supply chain is critical to the success of these advanced reactor programs. An expert panel will share important considerations with members.

Moderator: Commissioner John Gavan, Colorado

Panelists:
• Dr. Monica C. Regalbuto, Director, Nuclear Fuel Cycle Strategy, Idaho National Laboratory
• Andy Griffith, Deputy Assistant Secretary, DOE Office of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Supply Chain
• Dan Poneman, CEO of Centrus Energy Corp.
• Kirk Schnoebelen, President, URENCO, Inc.