Centrus Energy Secures Major DOE Funding for HALEU Expansion
Centrus Energy, the sole operational Western producer of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), is significantly scaling up its domestic production capabilities. The company's subsidiary, American Centrifuge Operating LLC, was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a $900 million task order, which could reach up to $1.07 billion with options. This funding is part of a broader $2.7 billion program aimed at restoring domestic enrichment capacity, with first commercial capacity expected by 2029.
Piketon Facility Upgrades and Manufacturing Milestones
To support this ambitious expansion, Centrus is upgrading its Piketon, Ohio facility for multi-billion dollar HALEU and LEU commercial capacity. Fluor Corporation was selected for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) services, while Geiger Brothers serves as the main construction contractor. The ultimate target is to achieve 12 tons per year of HALEU production after 2030. Furthermore, a new centrifuge manufacturing facility is set to launch in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in December 2025. Backed by a $560 million investment, the plant will create 430 jobs and produce AC100M centrifuges essential for the Piketon expansion. Centrus has already completed HALEU Phase I, producing 20 kg in November 2023, and Phase II, yielding 900 kg by June 2025. Phase III is currently ongoing under a $110 million DOE contract with eight-year extension options. Currently, Centrus operates under an exclusive NRC license allowing possession of approximately 1,400 kg per year.
Centrus Energy operates a single authorized enrichment cascade in Piketon, Ohio, serving as the primary American commercial source of HALEU, though initial output remains below the aggregate demand projected by small modular reactor developers.
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