December 11, 2024
December 11, 2024
USNIC Key Mover Update
With this latest DOE award Orano could combine domestic LEU, LEU+,
and HALEU enrichment supply for efficient production at its Project IKE
facility under development in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
BETHESDA, Md., December 11, 2024 – Orano has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy in an award announced yesterday as a supplier of low enriched uranium (LEU) generated by new domestic sources.
The DOE selected six companies from which it can sign contracts to procure LEU to
incentivize the build-out of new uranium production capacity in the United States.
Among the six awardees, Orano is one of only two companies currently producing and
providing commercial quantities of enriched uranium to U.S. nuclear reactors. Orano’s
significant investment in the design and construction of an American uranium enrichment
site would use Orano’s existing modern ultracentrifugation technology.
“We are pleased to be part of this DOE award for domestic LEU enrichment supply,” said
Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO, Orano USA. “For almost 60 years, Orano has fueled the U.S. and
global nuclear reactor fleet with LEU from our French facility in Tricastin. Orano’s Project
IKE in Oak Ridge, TN, is applying this same operational expertise and upgraded technology to establish a similar enrichment facility and generate a new reliable and secure American-based supply of enriched uranium.”
On September 4, 2024, Orano announced its selection of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as the
preferred site for establishing a multi-billion-dollar uranium enrichment facility known as
Project IKE. Significant progress is already underway with the DOE land transfer, NRC
license submittal preparations, and hiring for open positions.
Along with being selected in yesterday’s LEU supply award, Orano was also selected in
DOE’s two recent contract awards for high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU)
enrichment and deconversion to create fuel for future advanced reactors.
Since the process for HALEU enrichment includes LEU/LEU+ enrichment, co-locating both production facilities on Orano’s Project IKE site would achieve significant cost, security, and efficiency benefits.
Learn more about Orano’s Project IKE enrichment facility:
https://www.orano.group/usa/project-ike-enrichment
About Orano USA: Based in Bethesda, MD, with global headquarters in Paris, France, Orano is a leading technology and services provider for the commercial and federal nuclear industries. The company specializes in uranium mining/conversion/enrichment, used nuclear fuel management and recycling, decommissioning shutdown nuclear energy facilities, federal site clean-up and closure, and developing nuclear medicines to fight cancer.
Media Contact
Curtis Roberts
Press Officer
(202) 374-8766
curtis.roberts@orano.group
