Centrus receives $900 Million DOE Task Order as US pushes for domestic uranium enrichment
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a $900 million task order to Centrus Energy, a nuclear fuel supplier based in the United States, to increase uranium enrichment capacity at the Piketon site, Ohio. This is part of Washington's efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian supplies.
The award is part of a $2.7 billion worth of enrichment-related tasks orders?the Energy Department announced to three companies on Monday -- American Centrifuge?Operating (a Centrus Energy division), General Matter, and Orano Federal Services.
The agency said that the awards are intended to increase domestic uranium enrichment in the next decade.
The award will enable Centrus to move towards?commercial scale production of High Assay, Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU), a fuel that is vital for advanced nuclear power reactors and energy system.
Amir Vexler, CEO of the company, said: "This award will encourage private investment in the future and support the prospects for further growth as the market continues to grow."
Centrus said that the DOE funding would support its previously announced multi-billion dollar expansion at Piketon, which will add capacity for low enriched uranium (LEU) used in existing nuclear reactors.
The company has said that it has secured $2.3 Billion?in LEU Purchase Commitments from utilities, including those in the U.S. Export customers.
Centrus started domestic centrifuge production at its Oak Ridge, Tennessee plant in December of last year to support expansion plans. The first new capacity is expected online by 2029.
(source: Reuters)
