HALEU and LEU enrichment capacity, uranium supply chains, Centrus, Urenco and fuel feedstock developments
Centrus Energy has shipped the first new centrifuge from Oak Ridge for its Piketon expansion, a milestone in rebuilding U.S. HALEU enrichment capacity. The project includes commercial-scale HALEU production supported by a DOE task order worth up to USD1.07 billion.
Centrus shipped the first centrifuge made at its expanded Oak Ridge plant to Piketon on Oct. 29, 2026, ahead of schedule, as it targets first new enrichment capacity in 2029.
Centrus Energy has shipped the first centrifuge manufactured at its Oak Ridge plant to Piketon, Ohio for final assembly, a milestone in a $560 million expansion aimed at 12 tonnes per year of HALEU capacity by 2029.
Centrus Energy shipped the first centrifuge manufactured at its expanded Oak Ridge plant to Ohio ahead of schedule, part of a multibillion-dollar buildout that will add LEU and HALEU capacity starting in 2029.
Western enrichers are adding millions of SWU and building order books into the 2040s, but new capacity must land before Russian LEU import waivers expire on January 1, 2028.
The NRC has issued a final environmental impact statement for Global Laser Enrichment's Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility, leaving only a safety evaluation report before a construction and operating license. GLE targets a 2027 license and 2030 start-up.
Centrus has delivered only 900 kg of HALEU against US needs of more than 40 tonnes before 2030, while Urenco's Capenhurst plant and Global Laser Enrichment's Paducah project edge toward new Western capacity.
Urenco USA has begun production in the sixth new enrichment cascade at its New Mexico National Enrichment Facility, with its US capacity expansion project more than 75% complete and 700,000 SWU of new capacity being installed between 2025 and 2027.
GLE's SILEX laser enrichment technology has reached Technology Readiness Level 6 after a large-scale demonstration in North Carolina, and is being positioned as a lower-energy, lower-capital alternative to gas centrifugation for producing LEU and LEU+ up to 8% U-235.
The NRC has issued the final environmental impact statement for Global Laser Enrichment's Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility, the first of two reports underpinning a licence that would authorise LEU and LEU+ production with Cameco offtake reaching into the HALEU grade.
A joint venture between ASP Isotopes subsidiary Quantum Leap Energy and South Africa's state-owned Necsa will develop, finance, build and operate a test bench and a commercial-scale HALEU production facility at the Pelindaba site.
Quantum Leap Energy and South African state nuclear corporation Necsa will build a pilot and commercial-scale HALEU facility at Pelindaba, with Quantum Leap holding roughly 80 percent and TerraPower already signed for offtake.