New-generation fuel needed for advanced nuclear reactors
Six companies have been chosen as awardees under an $800m (€730m) US Department of Energy (DOE) contract to provide high-assay low-enriched uranium (Haleu) deconversion services for advanced nuclear power reactors.
The six companies are BWXT, Centrus, Framatome, GE Vernova, Orano and Westinghouse.
In November 2023, the DOE issued a solicitation for the potential 10-year contract to deconvert Haleu to produce fuels for advanced reactors.
Each awardee will receive a minimum guarantee of $2m and conduct deconversion and storage services at locations within the continental US.
The work could involve deconverting uranium hexafluoride gas to a metal and oxide that will be transported and stored until there is a need for it to be manufactured into fuel for advanced nuclear reactors.
Framatome said in a statement that the DOE contract is to provide deconversion services for Haleu production for new domestic capacity “in support of the mission of nuclear energy”.
It said deconversion services include the design, licensing and construction of production facilities and the production of oxide and metal Haleu product.
The DOE said Haleu deconversion is a critical step in the fuel supply chain for advanced nuclear reactors. HALEU is uranium enriched between 5 and 20 percent, which increases the amount of fissile material to make the fuel more efficient. After enrichment, which is performed while in gaseous uranium hexafluoride form, the material needs to be deconverted to oxide or metal forms that are fabricated into fuel for advanced reactors.
Since the standard enrichments for the current US light-water reactor nuclear fleet are below 5%, Haleu is an essential component for the future of advancing nuclear technology in the US and around the world, Framatome said.
This article has been updated to clarify that six companies were chosen as awardees, not four as originally stated. We apologise for the error.
