Urenco USA (UUSA) has begun production of enriched uranium in its newest gas centrifuge cascade as part of the expansion project at its enrichment facility in New Mexico. It is the first of several cascades planned to come online by early 2027. Once completed, the expansion will represent a 15% increase in US enrichment capacity.
Before the new cascade came online, the capacity of the plant was 4.3m SWU (separative work units). The overall expansion will add 700,000 SWU, with additional cascades being installed steadily over the next two years.
UUSA is the only commercial producer of enriched uranium in the US. Its National Enrichment Facility (NEF), located 8 km east of Eunice, New Mexico, which began operation in 2010, is operated by Louisiana Energy Services (LES) owned by the Urenco Group. As of 2011, LES operates as URENCO USA. The facility represents a commercial investment to date of more than $5bn in US manufacturing.
UUSA currently has the capacity to meet approximately one-third of the enrichment needs of US NPPs. The company is evaluating potential additional expansion subject to market demand and underpinned by contracts. UUSA’s new production will strengthen the nuclear fuel supply chain and support a transition away from reliance on Russian supply.
“Our experienced team of employees at Urenco USA continues to deliver on our plans for expanding America’s uranium enrichment capacity to support our utility customers with a long-term and reliable domestic supply of enriched uranium,” said UUSA Managing Director John Kirkpatrick.
The Urenco Group is also building a new enrichment hall at its Almelo enrichment plant in the Netherlands and plans to build a facility with the capacity to produce up to 10 tonnes of High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) a year at its Capenhurst facility in the UK by 2031.
