The US Department of Energy has announced $2.7 billion in awards to restore domestic uranium enrichment capacity, structured as milestone-based task orders spanning the next decade. The department published the award details alongside its high-assay low-enriched uranium program materials.
American Centrifuge Operating, General Matter and Orano Federal Services each received $900 million to expand production of both conventional low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium. Global Laser Enrichment received a separate $28 million award to continue advancing laser-based enrichment technology.
Congress authorized the funding under the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, legislation aimed at reducing the exposure of US reactor fuel supply to Russian enrichment services.
Fuel availability has become the practical constraint on advanced reactor deployment. Most designs now progressing through NRC licensing specify high-assay low-enriched uranium, which is enriched above the level used in the existing light-water fleet. Domestic production of the material has been limited to demonstration quantities, leaving a gap between reactor approval schedules and fuel delivery schedules.
The program is intended to serve two demand sources. Existing supply requirements cover the fuel needs of the nation's 94 operating commercial reactors, while advanced reactor deployments planned through the 2030s represent the incremental volume.
Milestone-based disbursement ties federal payment to demonstrated production progress. The approach places construction and commissioning risk on the awardees while giving the department defined checkpoints across the ten-year period.
Source: US Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/articles/us-department-energy-awards-27-billion-restore-american-uranium-enrichment