Boosting Domestic Enrichment Capacity
Urenco USA has achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing capacity expansion project at the National Enrichment Facility in New Mexico. The company has started production in the sixth cascade of its new uranium enrichment capacity, bringing the project to 75% completion. This expansion is a critical component of the Department of Energy’s efforts to expand domestic uranium enrichment capacity and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
Project Timeline and Capacity Increases
The ongoing 700,000 separative work units (SWU) expansion project, scheduled between 2025 and 2027, is currently ahead of schedule and on budget. Following the completion of the sixth cascade, Urenco USA expects to install the seventh cascade later in 2026 and the eighth and final cascade in the spring of 2027. Once fully operational, this expansion will increase the facility's production by over 50%.
Long-Term Strategic Vision
Currently, the National Enrichment Facility holds 4.3 million SWU of capacity, covering about one-third of U.S. enriched uranium demand. Looking further ahead, Urenco plans to expand its domestic capacity to over 7 million SWU over the next decade. In 2029, the company will begin building a new enrichment plant at the existing site to add 2.1 million SWU of capacity, with the first cascades launching in 2032 and the remainder through 2036.
This domestic expansion is driven by the urgent need to reduce reliance on Russia, which controls nearly half of global enrichment capacity, amid a projected 28% increase in uranium demand by 2030.
By supplying both traditional reactors and advanced nuclear technologies, Urenco USA is positioning itself as a cornerstone of the Western world's nuclear fuel supply chain.
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.