Funds six firms to build domestic nuclear fuel supply.

In a decisive move to bolster America's nuclear energy capabilities, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced contracts with six companies to develop domestic low enriched uranium (LEU) production, strengthening supply chains for the nation's existing and next-generation reactors.

Prioritizing the development of an LEU supply chain, DOE has made this effort central to its energy security strategy, a necessity reinforced through the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act signed into law earlier this year to mitigate supply risks and rebuild domestic capacity.

To address the impending 35% deficit caused by the ban on Russian uranium, DOE initiatives have included issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) aimed at expanding domestic enrichment infrastructure, incentivizing private investment, and securing a reliable fuel supply for the nation's nuclear reactors.

Building on this, it has pursued a multifaceted approach, addressing both LEU and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) needs by implementing comparable strategies, including targeted investments and contracts to develop domestic enrichment capabilities for each critical fuel type.

In early October, DOE awarded grants to six companies to advance domestic production of HALEU, a critical fuel for next-generation reactors; now, the agency has shifted its focus to conventional LEU, essential for sustaining the nation's current nuclear power generation.

Through its latest announcement, the agency has once again selected six companies to compete for contracts supporting the production of LEU, fostering strong industry participation and investment.

These contracts, lasting up to 10 years and guaranteeing a minimum award of $2 million per company, aim to establish new domestic enrichment capacity.

"These contracts generated from this action will help spur the safe and responsible build-out of uranium enrichment capacity in the United States," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Michael Goff. "We must increase our capacity to produce enriched uranium domestically to support the energy security and resilience of the nation."

This capacity will either come from entirely new facilities or the expansion of existing infrastructure, ensuring a stable and reliable fuel supply for current reactors and future deployments of advanced nuclear technologies.

The selected companies include:

• American Centrifuge Operating, LLC

• General Matter, Inc.

• Global Laser Enrichment, LLC

• Louisiana Energy Services, LLC

• Laser Isotope Separation Technologies, Inc.

• Orano Federal Services, LLC

By diversifying domestic enrichment capacity through partnerships with these six companies, DOE seeks to establish a robust nuclear fuel supply chain to sustain the nation's energy infrastructure, addressing immediate vulnerabilities while advancing the broader transition toward clean and secure energy.