Centrus signs contract to advance US enrichment technology

• 8 years ago (2016-09-26)
• David Flin

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Centrus Energy Corporation has announced that it has entered into a new follow-on contract with UT-Battelle as operator of the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to maintain and advance US gas centrifuge uranium enrichment technology. The contract is valued at $25 million, and runs to September 2017. Under the terms of the contract, Centrus will perform engineering and testing work on the American Centrifuge uranium enrichment technology to support future national and energy security needs.

Larry Cutlip, Vice President Field Operations for Centrus said: “With this contract, our scientists, engineers, and operations staff can continue their vital work ensuring that an advanced US uranium enrichment technology is ready for deployment when the country needs it. While those decision will be made by the President and Congress, Centrus remains committed to being a reliable partner for the US Government in advancing America’s national interests.”

Under the terms of the new contract, Centrus will utilise the company’s facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to develop and test technology improvements to reduce costs, improve manufacturability, and enhance long-term reliability of US uranium enrichment technology. The work ensures that critical US expertise in centrifuge technology and operations is maintained and advanced to meet the future needs of the country.”

The USA shut down the last of its enrichment plants in 2013. For commercial electricity production, the USA imports the majority of its enriched uranium fuel for nuclear power plants from Russia, Europe, and China.

Current market conditions do not support the USA building a full-scale uranium enrichment plant for commercial purposes. However, over the long-term, the US Department of Energy will need to deploy domestic enrichment technology on an industrial scale.