Centrus Energy Advances HALEU Production and Licensing
Centrus Energy is solidifying its position as a critical supplier of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) in the Western world. The company's American Centrifuge Plant (ACP) in Piketon, Ohio, remains the only licensed HALEU production facility in the West, holding an active NRC license (SNM-2011) with a capacity of 3.8 million SWU per year and an upper U-235 enrichment limit of 10 weight percent.
In a recent regulatory update, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) terminated Centrus's legacy license (SNM-7003) for the Lead Cascade Facility (LCF) in Piketon on November 8, 2024. The LCF, which previously demonstrated centrifuge operation and authorized enrichment up to 10% U-235, was decommissioned in 2018. This administrative closure clears the way for the company's modern expansion efforts.
Capacity Expansion Milestones
Centrus is aggressively expanding its domestic footprint. The company plans to have its first new centrifuge cascade at the Piketon facility operational by 2029. Additionally, the first centrifuge at the Oak Ridge facility is targeted for completion by the end of 2026. These expansions are heavily supported by a $900 million DOE HALEU production task order and an approximately $560 million investment in the Oak Ridge centrifuge manufacturing facility.
Centrus's Piketon facility is uniquely positioned to meet the growing HALEU demand from advanced reactor developers, building upon its historical 16-machine cascade demonstration contract with the DOE that targeted up to 19.75% U-235 enrichment.
By securing multi-year supply contracts with microreactor developers and leveraging federal support, Centrus is ensuring that the domestic supply chain is ready for the next generation of nuclear energy.
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.