Nuclear Enrichment Firms Plan Multibillion-Dollar Expansions in Ohio, New Mexico
Two private firms are moving forward with major expansions of US enriched uranium production capacity, ENR reports. Centrus Energy finalized a $1.07-billion fixed-price contract with the US Energy Department to build commercial-scale HALEU production at its American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio, with Fluor Corp. serving as EPC contractor on the phased buildout. New capacity is expected online starting in 2029. Separately, Centrus is investing $560 million to convert its Oak Ridge, Tennessee manufacturing center to produce high-rate centrifuges. Meanwhile, Urenco USA plans a privately funded, multibillion-dollar expansion at its Eunice, New Mexico facility, the sole US commercial enrichment site, to boost low enriched uranium output by 50%. Construction on a new process building could start in 2027, with new cascades producing by 2032 and installations continuing through 2036. Urenco is still selecting EPC partners and expects to finalize plans before 2027. A separate 700,000-unit capacity restoration project at the same site is set to finish in 2027.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Fluorâs Piketon buildout and Urencoâs pending EPC selection at Eunice signal upcoming subcontract packages for civil, electrical, mechanical, and process piping trades tied to centrifuge cascade installation, likely bid out in phases through the late 2020s.
- Specialty contractors with nuclear-grade fabrication or precision manufacturing experience should watch Centrusâs $560 million Oak Ridge, Tennessee centrifuge factory conversion, which will need equipment installation and facility retrofit work ahead of high-rate production.
- Firms with security clearance capabilities, quality assurance certifications, or DOE facility experience have an edge bidding into these projects, given the federal contract components at Piketon and the multi-decade capacity ramp planned at both sites.
