- Centrus Energy urges the US government to invest $3.4 billion in domestic nuclear fuel production to boost energy independence and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly Russia.
- CEO Amir Vexler emphasises the need for US uranium enrichment technology and warns against replacing dependence on Russia with reliance on other foreign nations like China or Europe.
- Centrus plans to expand its American Centrifuge Plant, aiming to increase production of low-enriched uranium and HALEU while stressing the importance of a public-private partnership for funding and growth.
Centrus Energy Corp. urges the US government to direct $3.4 billion in federal funds toward domestic nuclear fuel production to boost energy independence.
At a Capitol Hill briefing, Centrus CEO Amir Vexler stressed the importance of investing in US uranium enrichment technology. He warned that the US risks relying on foreign suppliers significantly as it reduces dependence on Russian nuclear fuel imports.
“The time is now to restore the US uranium supply chain,” said Vexler. He cautioned that shifting reliance from Russia to countries like China or Europe would create additional strategic risks.
Centrus and 14 companies from 13 states call for the government to support American-made nuclear technology. Part of Centrus’ supply chain, these companies stand ready to benefit from federal backing of the company’s American Centrifuge technology, manufactured in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and operated in Piketon, Ohio.
Centrus already operates 16 centrifuges under a Department of Energy contract at its American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon. The company produces high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU), a key fuel for advanced reactors. Centrus plans to expand the plant by adding thousands of centrifuges to increase the production of low-enriched uranium for current reactors and HALEU for future ones.
Centrus highlights the need for a public-private partnership to realise this expansion. The plan depends on federal investment, private capital, and customer purchasing agreements. Centrus actively participates in Department of Energy tenders, competing for the $3.4 billion Congress allocated.
Rising geopolitical tensions push the US to accelerate domestic nuclear fuel production. Centrus warns that continued reliance on Russian imports endangers US energy security. Vexler argues that investing in US technologies will reduce these risks and ensure long-term energy independence.
Without swift action, Vexler says the US faces the threat of becoming reliant on foreign technologies for nuclear production, leading to severe economic and national security risks. He advocates for robust investment in US technologies to preserve the country’s leadership in the nuclear sector.
Centrus aims to cut foreign dependence by mobilising an all-American supply chain while boosting the local economy. The company believes this approach will position the US as a global leader in advanced nuclear technologies.
The proposed federal investment presents a rare opportunity to revitalise the US nuclear industry. Centrus argues that by focusing on domestic technologies, the government can drive innovation, create jobs, and secure America’s energy future.
Centrus calls on policymakers to act quickly, urging support for an industry vital to US energy security. As the debate over federal nuclear investment continues, energy independence remains at the forefront. Favouring U.S.-made technologies will reduce foreign reliance and strengthen the US presence in the global nuclear market, shaping the nation’s energy future for years to come.