#United States #Nuclear Fuel #Urenco USA #LEU+ #Eunice

Urenco USA Achieves Milestone in Nuclear Fuel Production

On November 2, 2026, Urenco USA proudly announced the successful completion of its first commercial production cylinder of low-enriched uranium plus (LEU+). This groundbreaking achievement marks the first occurrence of LEU+ production in the Western world, signaling a new phase in fuel options for both existing light water reactors and advanced reactor designs.

Jody Blackshear, the Managing Director of Urenco USA, emphasized the extensive preparation undertaken by the plant and its staff to reach this historic milestone. He praised the collaborative efforts across various teams within the company, noting that this achievement allows them to offer an innovative fuel option, thereby supporting the next generation of nuclear fuel technologies.

Impact of LEU+

With the implementation of LEU+, existing light water reactors can expect extended operational cycles. This enhancement results in fewer refueling outages and a reduction in operational and maintenance costs. Furthermore, several advanced reactor technologies are in development that will incorporate LEU+ as a fuel source, ensuring a reliable and domestic supply of U.S. fuel.

Additionally, LEU+ serves as a critical feedstock for the production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). The introduction of LEU+ significantly boosts the fuel production capacity at facilities dedicated to HALEU, underpinning the deployment of new advanced reactor designs.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) granted Urenco USA authorization in September 2025 to enrich uranium up to 10% U-235. This allowed them to become the premier commercial uranium enrichers capable of producing LEU+. The gas centrifuge cascades at the facility are licensed for LEU+ production, thus providing a flexible resource for fulfilling various customer requirements.

Future Expansion Plans

Urenco USA is committed to expanding its domestic enrichment production capacity at its New Mexico facility to more than 7 million separative work units (SWU) within the next decade. To facilitate this expansion, construction of a new enrichment plant is set to begin in 2029, which will incorporate an additional 2.1 million SWU of enrichment capacity. The initial production from these new cascades is expected to commence in 2032, with further installations continuing until 2036. This expansion will also include the ability to produce LEU+.

Understanding Enriched Uranium Levels

Natural uranium contains two primary isotopes: U-238 (more than 99%) and fissionable U-235 (less than 1%). Most nuclear reactors today operate using fuel made from low-enriched uranium (LEU), where U-235 levels range from 3% to 5%. In contrast, LEU+ contains U-235 levels between 5% and 10%, while HALEU is enriched between 10% and 20%, necessitating specific facilities and NRC authorization for production.

About Urenco USA

As the only commercial-scale producer of enriched uranium in the United States, Urenco USA operates the National Enrichment Facility, a crucial component of the country’s energy infrastructure and nuclear fuel supply chain, which began operations in 2010. The current facility capacity of 4.3 million SWU meets approximately one-third of the U.S. demand for low-enriched uranium.

With a dedicated workforce of over 500 employees and long-term contractors, Urenco USA plays a pivotal role in supporting U.S. utilities in responding to rising domestic energy needs and enhancing U.S. energy security. Since initiating its product shipments in 2012, the company has consistently fulfilled orders on time, amounting to more than 50 million SWU of production.

Urenco USA is dedicated to ensuring the reliability and sustainability of energy for U.S. consumers and businesses through the provision of safe and cost-effective uranium enrichment services. Their commitment to high regulatory and safety standards ensures that their world-class facility in southeastern New Mexico remains essential to the nation’s energy production and security efforts. To learn more, visit www.urencousa.com.