TL/DR –
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected four companies to provide enrichment services to help establish a U.S. supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda. The companies selected are Louisiana Energy Services, Orano Federal Services, General Matter, and American Centrifuge Operating. The move is aimed at supporting the demonstration and deployment of advanced reactor technologies, creating jobs, and reinforcing America’s leadership in the nuclear industry, ultimately aiming for a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
US Department of Energy Invests in Domestic Enrichment Services for Advanced Reactor Technologies
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda continues to push forward with new strides in the nuclear industry. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected four companies to provide enrichment services essential to establishing a domestic supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). This move is critical to support the deployment of advanced reactor technologies, support quality job creation, and reinforce America’s leadership in the nuclear industry.
“This move represents the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to a secure domestic HALEU supply chain, crucial to bringing advanced nuclear reactors online and meeting the growing demand for clean, reliable electricity,” says U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.
HALEU, uranium enriched between 5 and 20 percent, is more efficient than lower-enriched forms of uranium. It is key to achieving smaller designs, longer operating cycles, and increased efficiencies in many advanced reactors. The selected companies will bid on future work to produce and store HALEU in uranium hexafluoride gas form, eventually to be used as fuel for advanced reactors.
These contracts pave the way for a robust domestic HALEU supply chain, complementing recently announced contracts to support HALEU deconversion services. The contracts, lasting up to 10 years, are funded by the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, with up to $2.7 billion available for these services.
The selected companies are Louisiana Energy Services, Orano Federal Services, General Matter, and American Centrifuge Operating.
This step also backs the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, aiming to ensure 40% of the benefits of federal climate and clean energy investments flow to disadvantaged communities. DOE will use the HALEU acquired through these contracts in reactors like TerraPower’s Natrium reactor and X-energy’s Xe-100, which are under development through DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
Further information on the HALEU Availability Program can be found at the US Economic News