Centrus Ships First Centrifuges to Ohio for Final Assembly
U.S. uranium enrichment company Centrus has reached a major milestone (WBIR.com). The Bethesda, Maryland–based firm announced last week that it had begun shipping newly produced centrifuges from its Technology and Manufacturing Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to its enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio, for final assembly.
The background: The Ohio plant is undergoing a multibillion-dollar expansion, undertaken with engineering firm Fluor, following selection by the Department of Energy for a $900 million task order to expand their operations.
- “The expanded facility is expected to produce fuel for existing nuclear power plants as well as advanced reactors,” WBIR reports.
Why it’s important: The first shipment demonstrates that Centrus has “a complete manufacturing supply chain in place to support our expansion,” the company said in a LinkedIn post.
Another expansion: The news comes as Centrus continues with a $560 million investment, announced in January, to modernize and expand its Oak Ridge facility.
- The company plans to turn the facility into “a high-rate manufacturing plant capable of producing thousands of advanced centrifuges,” according to WBIR.
- The expanded capacity will support production of low-enriched uranium for existing nuclear reactors and high-assay low-enriched uranium for next-generation reactors.
Stimulating the economy: The Oak Ridge project, part of a larger effort to strengthen U.S. uranium enrichment capabilities, is expected to create nearly 430 permanent jobs in the area, along with hundreds of indirect and contractor positions.
The NAM’s take: “Centrus’ news is a milestone for the entire nation,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons.
- “With it, the administration and the U.S. are taking a major step closer to the goal of shoring up domestic production of uranium for safe, abundant and clean nuclear power.”
Photo credit: Centrus
