The US Department of Energy has awarded $2.7 billion in task orders to rebuild domestic uranium enrichment capacity over the next ten years, the largest federal investment in the nuclear fuel supply chain in a generation. The awards expand US capacity for low-enriched uranium and jumpstart supply chains for high-assay low-enriched uranium, the fuel required by most advanced reactor designs.
Three companies received the core awards: American Centrifuge Operating was granted $900 million to create domestic HALEU enrichment capacity, General Matter received $900 million for the same purpose, and Orano Federal Services was awarded $900 million to expand US low-enriched uranium capacity. DOE added $28 million to Global Laser Enrichment to continue advancing next-generation laser enrichment technology.
The investment targets a strategic vulnerability. Russia's state-owned Rosatom controls approximately 44% of global enrichment capacity and supplied nearly 25% of the enriched uranium used by US utilities before Congress prohibited those imports through 2040, with temporary waivers allowed only where no alternative supply exists.
Domestic enrichment capacity underpins two missions at once: keeping the nation's 94 commercial reactors fueled and supplying the HALEU that advanced reactor developers, including those building under DOE's pilot program, will need as their projects reach fuel loading.
Source: US Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/articles/us-department-energy-awards-27-billion-restore-american-uranium-enrichment