Centrus Energy has completed and shipped the first new centrifuge from its Oak Ridge, Tennessee manufacturing plant to Ohio, marking a milestone in its multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment capacity expansion. The company said both the first centrifuge completion and the stand-up of a complete supply chain were achieved ahead of its previously announced year-end target.
From Tennessee to Ohio
Centrifuges manufactured in Oak Ridge will be shipped to Ohio for final assembly. The manufacturing rate is expected to grow over time. The first new capacity is expected to come online in Ohio in 2029, as previously announced.
The expansion is designed to support large-scale production of low-enriched uranium (LEU) for the existing reactor fleet, HALEU for next-generation reactors, and enrichment for national security needs.
Oak Ridge investment
In December 2025, Centrus restarted centrifuge manufacturing activities in Oak Ridge. In January 2026, the company announced a $560 million investment to expand and modernize its Oak Ridge Technology and Manufacturing Center, transitioning it to a high-rate manufacturing plant capable of supporting production of thousands of advanced centrifuges. Centrus has contracted a network of domestic suppliers and ordered tens of thousands of components.
Earlier in October 2026, Centrus completed its strategic acquisition of Westerman Holdings, a key supplier of centrifuge casings and other major components. Centrus relies on an exclusively domestic supply chain, allowing its centrifuges to produce enriched uranium for commercial and national security applications.
“These milestones position Centrus to re-establish the country’s position in the global enrichment market,” said CEO Amir Vexler.
Proven HALEU production
Centrus’ existing centrifuge cascade in Ohio has been reliably producing HALEU since late 2023. The company says its technology is fully licensed, proven and de-risked, with more than four million machine-hours of successful operation. Centrus’ Oak Ridge facility is the only advanced centrifuge manufacturing plant in the United States, according to the company.
Centrus Energy (NYSE: LEU), based in Oak Ridge, has supplied utility customers with more than 1,850 reactor-years of fuel since 1998. The company is positioning the expansion as a step toward commercial-scale HALEU supply for advanced reactors.
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.