X-energy Secures Long-Term HALEU Supply Agreement with Centrus Energy

X-energy Secures Long-Term HALEU Supply Agreement with Centrus Energy

On August 6, 2026, Centrus Energy and X-energy signed a definitive long-term contract for low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) enrichment services. This landmark agreement is designed to support X-energy's Xe-100 small modular reactors (SMRs) and the deployment of its proprietary TRISO-X fuel. The strategic partnership ensures that X-energy's ambitious commercial pipeline will have the necessary fuel supply to proceed with construction and operations.

Fueling the Xe-100 SMR Fleet

The Xe-100 reactor is a cornerstone of X-energy's advanced nuclear strategy, with an 11.5GW commercial pipeline currently in development. According to data provided by Centrus, the initial HALEU loading for a single 80MWe Xe-100 reactor is estimated at approximately 1.5 tons. A standard four-reactor Xe-100 plant, generating 320MWe, would require about 6 tons of HALEU for its initial core load. Scaling this up, a deployment of ten reactors would necessitate around 15 tons of HALEU.

These substantial fuel requirements highlight the urgent need for commercial-scale enrichment capacity. Centrus Energy's current demonstration cascade production capacity is limited to roughly one ton per year. To supply multiple Xe-100 reactors, the commercial-scale capacity expansion currently planned by Centrus is practically mandatory, as existing production cannot meet the demand of even a fraction of a single company's needs.

The definitive agreement between Centrus and X-energy includes crucial prepayments from X-energy to Centrus, directly supporting the expansion of domestic commercial enrichment capacity at the American Centrifuge Plant in Ohio.

Advancing the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program

Both X-energy and TerraPower are key players in the DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Recent updates from both companies indicate significant progress in deploying advanced commercial-scale reactors that require HALEU fuel. By securing a long-term supply contract, X-energy is mitigating one of the most significant risks associated with SMR deployment: fuel availability. This agreement not only secures X-energy's fuel supply but also provides vital financial backing to Centrus, accelerating the build-out of the domestic HALEU supply chain required for the next generation of nuclear energy.

This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.