U.S. Department of Energy Awards $400 Million to Build Domestic HALEU Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Hub

WASHINGTON, DC — The United States Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy announced the award of $400 million in contract funding through the Nuclear Fuel Security Act, funding the construction and operation of commercial centrifuge enrichment cascades in Piketon, Ohio.

Ending Foreign Uranium Dependence for Next-Gen Advanced Reactors

The federal contracts authorize Centrus Energy and partners to expand domestic enrichment capacity to produce High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) enriched between 5% and 20% U-235, the specialized fuel required to power commercial Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and microreactors under development nationwide. The domestic enrichment expansion permanently replaces Russian enriched uranium imports, securing the supply chain for clean civilian nuclear power.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm stated that establishing an American-owned advanced nuclear fuel supply chain is critical to national security and global clean energy leadership.

Advanced Nuclear Developers and Labor Unions Praise

Advanced nuclear reactor designers including TerraPower and X-energy commended the awards, noting that guaranteed domestic HALEU fuel supply enables commercial reactor deployments before 2030.

United Steelworkers Local 689 secured hundreds of highly specialized union nuclear technician jobs in Southern Ohio.

Cascade Operation Schedule

Commercial HALEU centrifuge production cascades will begin full-scale manufacturing output in mid-2027.