Westinghouse will invest approximately $1 billion to expand nuclear fuel production in South Carolina, building a new facility within the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility complex in Hopkins, Richland County. Construction is already under way, with production scheduled to begin in 2030.
What the plant will make
The new plant will manufacture LEU+ fuel — uranium enriched to between 5 and 8 percent — increasing capacity to supply operating nuclear power plants and supporting AP1000 reactor deployment. Westinghouse says the facility will be the first new nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in the United States in more than 50 years designed for large-scale industrial production capable of supplying a fleet of reactors.
It is worth being precise about the fuel grade. LEU+ is not HALEU. HALEU is enriched to between 5 and 20 percent uranium-235 and is being developed for certain advanced reactor designs, while LEU+ is intended to expand fuel options for the existing light water reactor fleet. Both require appropriate infrastructure and safety controls.
LEU+ has already been demonstrated
LEU+ fuel was successfully used in the United States for the first time in 2025, and Westinghouse says its development forms part of the US UPRISE programme, which aims to expand the use of nuclear power. The next challenge is scaling up production for wider adoption. Higher enrichment can extend reactor operating cycles between refuelling, potentially reducing shutdowns and operating costs — though the benefits depend on reactor design, fuel assembly design and regulatory approvals.
Anchored in an existing industrial base
The existing Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility complex began operating in 1968 and is one of the largest nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities in the world. It produces fuel pellets, fuel rods, complete fuel assemblies and other components, supplying other Westinghouse facilities and customers worldwide. The site employs more than 1,200 people, and the investment is expected to strengthen its role as a nuclear industry hub and create additional specialised jobs.
Westinghouse estimates the project could generate $4.9 billion in economic benefits for South Carolina over ten years, with about $3.8 billion benefiting Richland County, spanning construction, equipment purchases, hiring and skills development. Those figures come from an analysis commissioned by Westinghouse with researchers from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, and are forecasts rather than realised results.
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.