Centrus Energy has begun shipping centrifuges to Ohio to support a major expansion of its uranium enrichment capacity, a step the company described as a milestone for its American Centrifuge program. The announcement, made on October 29, 2026, comes as Centrus prepares to increase HALEU production at its Piketon, Ohio, site.
New cascades for HALEU output
Last year Centrus announced it would significantly expand the Piketon plant and install new centrifuge cascades to increase HALEU output and serve other uranium enrichment orders. The company has said the expansion is intended to meet growing commercial demand for both low-enriched uranium and HALEU from advanced reactor developers and other customers.
The shipment of centrifuges is a tangible sign that the expansion is moving from planning into construction and equipment installation. Centrus has not disclosed a precise completion date for the new cascades, but the company has linked the timing to customer prepayments and contract commitments.
Centrus President and CEO Amir Vexler said the definitive agreements show Centrus is positioned to meet substantial upcoming commercial HALEU demand, and that Oklo's prepayments will help fund the build-out of American Centrifuge technology and qualified manufacturing processes.
Manufacturing capacity brought in-house
Centrus also moved to strengthen its supply chain on October 19, 2026, by acquiring Westerman Holdings, LLC, a key centrifuge component supplier and manufacturer. The company said the deal brings a key supplier in-house and diversifies its manufacturing capacity and revenue.
Including the Oklo contracts, Centrus has accumulated orders and commitments worth $5.4 billion for LEU and HALEU from new capacity. The company has also highlighted Ohio's role in the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain, hosting Governor Mike DeWine and JobsOhio at the Piketon facility in August 2026.
The centrifuge shipments do not by themselves create new HALEU output, but they are a leading indicator for the pace of capacity additions. For advanced reactor developers, the key question is whether Centrus can convert its order book into reliable deliveries by the late 2020s, when several first-of-a-kind projects are scheduled to need fuel.
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.