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Centrus Energy Corp has announced the production of nearly one metric ton of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) — a crucial fuel source required by most advanced reactor designs.
The production is the first of its kind in the United States and marks a key milestone in the U.S. Department of Energy’s HALEU Demonstration project to help meet the nation’s near-term HALEU needs.
Meeting the Mark
The Department contracted with Centrus subsidiary American Centrifuge Operating in 2019 to construct a cascade of 16 advanced centrifuges in Piketon, Ohio to demonstrate HALEU production. In November 2022, the company was later awarded a follow-on contract to start up the cascade and begin HALEU production for the Department’s use.
The company started enriching uranium hexafluoride gas into HALEU in 2023 to deliver the nation’s first 20 kgs of material and were then tasked with producing 900 kgs by the end of June 2025.
The material will be used as part of the Department’s HALEU allocation process to support the fuel qualification and testing of advanced reactor designs.
The Piketon plant is currently the only facility in the United States licensed to enrich uranium up to 19.75 percent and is the first U.S. owned plant to start enrichment production since the 1950s.
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