The Department of Energy said Monday it plans to hire a Centrus Energy subsidiary to demonstrate a new nuclear fuel product for use in federal research into advanced reactors.
In a notice of intent on the FedBizOpps.gov website, DOE’s Nuclear Energy Oak Ridge, Tenn., Site Office said American Centrifuge Operating would be hired to develop a batch of high assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for the department’s research and development program. The potential three-year contract, valued at $115 million, would employ a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the Portsmouth Site in Piketon, Ohio, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said in a statement.
The contract would run from January 2019 through December 2020, with a one-year option. It would entail production of a 19.75 percent uranium-235 enriched fuel product by October 2020. The Energy Department expects Centrus can make this fuel with its existing American Centrifuge technology for use in advanced civilian or defense-related nuclear reactors.
Maryland-based Centrus has the domestically owned and controlled technology with a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, DOE said. While the agency believes Centrus is the only available domestic supplier, it invites any other interested parties to submit a capability statement by 3 p.m. EST on Jan. 22 to [email protected].
The business should mean 60 jobs at Portsmouth, Portman said. “While there will be a consideration period before this decision is final, I’m encouraged by today’s announcement. Getting Piketon back to its full potential benefits the skilled workforce here, the surrounding local economy, and strengthens national energy and defense security.”
“The proposed demonstration is very good news for the entire U.S. nuclear industry,” Centrus said in a statement. “If America wants to be competitive in supplying the next generation of nuclear reactors around the world, we need an assured, American source of high-assay, low-enriched uranium to power those reactors. We stand ready to work with the Department to get the proposed project under way as quickly as possible.”
