Some next-generation plants will need fuel this year
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced conditional commitments to supply high assay low enriched uranium (Halue) to five domestic nuclear developers to meet their short-term fuel needs.
The DOE said the allocations “bring innovative American nuclear technologies one step closer to commercialisation” and aim to expand the use of nuclear energy in the country.
Haleu, which has a higher level of uranium enrichment than conventional reactor fuel, is seen as critical to the deployment of next-generation reactors aiming for greater fuel efficiency.
The DOE said it had received requests from 15 companies under its Haleu allocation process and identified five to receive initial supplies. Three of the five need fuel this year.
The five are Triso-X, Kairos Power, Radiant Industries, Westinghouse Electric and TerraPower.
According to energy secretary Chris Wright, the move will help US nuclear developers deploy their advanced reactors with Haleu sourced from secure supply chains, marking an important step forward in president Donald Trump’s programme to revitalise the US nuclear sector.
The DOE said it will begin the contracting process to allocate the Haleu to the five companies, some of which could receive their Haleu as early as this autumn. The allocation process is ongoing, and the DOE plans to continue Haleu allocations to additional companies in the future, it said.
The commitments have been made through the federal Haleu availability programme, established in 2020 to secure domestic sources for advanced reactor development and other civilian nuclear uses.
The US government has been concerned for several years that Russia has a monopoly on Haleu manufacturing. Washington has taken steps to incentivise the development of domestic production.
In October 2024, four companies including US-based Centrus Energy, Urenco USA, Orano USA, and a US company called General Matter, were awarded contracts to produce Haleu in the US.
Deliveries from Russia are set to end in 2028 under a 2024 ban.
