Deal supports X-energy’s planned Oak Ridge fuel facility as Centrus expands its Tennessee operations with a $560 million investment and nearly 430 new jobs.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Information Center) — A new agreement between two nuclear energy companies is strengthening East Tennessee’s role in the nation’s emerging advanced nuclear industry.
Centrus Energy Corp. and X-energy have signed a definitive contract for Centrus to provide enrichment services for low-enriched uranium and high-assay, low-enriched uranium, or HALEU.
The agreement is expected to support X-energy’s planned TRISO-X fuel fabrication campus in Oak Ridge, along with the company’s deployment of its Xe-100 small modular reactors.
Under the agreement, X-energy will provide prepayments to Centrus to support the company’s domestic commercial enrichment capacity program.
Centrus will produce the LEU and HALEU at its American Centrifuge Plant in Pike County, Ohio.
The deal comes as Centrus moves forward with a major expansion of its Oak Ridge centrifuge manufacturing plant. The company is investing more than $560 million in the facility and expects the project to create nearly 430 jobs.
Company officials say the developments are helping rebuild the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain and position East Tennessee as a production hub for next-generation nuclear energy.
The agreement adds to Centrus’ existing $3 billion contingent backlog for LEU and HALEU, including $2.4 billion in definitized contracts.
Centrus also recently announced a $900 million Department of Energy award for HALEU enrichment.
X-energy has previously announced commercial partnerships with companies including Dow Inc., Amazon and Centrica to support deployment of its advanced small modular reactors.
Centrus CEO Amir Vexler said the agreement strengthens the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain and helps address concerns about access to enriched uranium needed for advanced reactors.
The companies say growing demand for reliable, carbon-free power is driving increased commercial interest in advanced nuclear technology.
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