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Urenco USA Advances U.S. Nuclear Fuel Supply with New Capability and Capacity
17 December 2025 UUSA NewsLEU+ Produced for First Time in Preparation for Commercial Deliveries in 2026
Third New Cascade of U.S. Uranium Enrichment Capacity Now Online
EUNICE, N.M. – Urenco USA has completed a successful year of advancing the United States’ nuclear fuel supply by achieving two new milestones in December: the company’s first production of enriched uranium above 5% U-235 and the startup of its next cascade of centrifuges as part of an ongoing capacity installation program.
“In 2025, we have delivered on our plans to launch a new advanced fuels capability and to install new production capacity, demonstrating Urenco USA’s commitment to supporting the future needs of our customers and the U.S. nuclear industry as the country increasingly relies on nuclear energy,” said John Kirkpatrick, managing director of Urenco USA. “Our employees’ efforts this year will ensure that the United States continues to have a reliable domestic supplier of enriched uranium for our current reactor fleet and for the advanced reactors preparing for deployment in the coming years.”
LEU+ Produced
On December 11, the company completed its initial production run of uranium enriched to 8.5% U-235, which is the first time a commercial uranium enrichment facility in the United States has produced this level of enrichment and demonstrates the company’s ability to produce low enriched uranium plus (LEU+), which is uranium enriched to between 5-10% U-235. Urenco USA plans to begin production of commercial quantities of LEU+ for its customers in mid-2026.
On September 30, 2025, Urenco USA received authorization from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to enrich uranium up to 10% U-235. All the plant’s cascades are licensed to produce LEU+, providing a flexible resource for meeting customers’ fuel requirements.
The availability of LEU+ supports several advancements for the nuclear industry:
LEU+ will support longer operating cycles for the current fleet of light-water reactors, which will reduce their operating and maintenance costs, and supports the deployment of new accident-tolerant fuel designs.
Many advanced reactor designs will be able to utilize LEU+ for fuel, speeding their deployment timelines and providing them a domestic source of enrichment.
LEU+ can also serve as feedstock for producing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which is uranium enriched to between 10-20% U-235, increasing the potential output of future HALEU enrichment facilities.
New Cascade Installed
Urenco USA has also worked diligently to add new centrifuge cascades this year as part of a program that will install 700,000 separative work units (SWU) of capacity between 2025-2027 at its New Mexico uranium enrichment plant. The third new cascade began production of low enriched uranium (LEU) on December 16. Each of the three new cascades installed in 2025 started operating ahead of schedule, demonstrating the company’s ability to add new enrichment capacity to meet the growing demands of the U.S. market and supporting the U.S. government’s efforts to eliminate the country’s reliance on enriched uranium imported from Russia. Urenco USA is the only company to have licensed, built, operated, and expanded a commercial uranium enrichment plant in the United States.
About Urenco USA
As America’s only commercial-scale producer of enriched uranium, Urenco USA operates the National Enrichment Facility, a strategic part of America’s energy infrastructure and nuclear fuel supply chain that began operations in 2010 and has the capacity to meet approximately one-third of the enrichment needs of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants. The facility represents a commercial investment of private capital in U.S. manufacturing totaling more than $5 billion to date and employs more than 500 U.S. employees and long-term contractors.
With nearly two decades of experience building and operating uranium enrichment capacity in the United States, Urenco USA is uniquely positioned to support U.S. utilities in meeting growing domestic energy needs and in strengthening U.S. energy security. Since its first product shipment in 2012, the company has delivered every customer order on time and to specification, representing more than 50 million SWU of production.
Urenco USA’s essential role in the nuclear fuel supply chain supports the generation of reliable, secure, and sustainable energy for U.S. consumers and businesses. The company focuses on providing safe, cost-effective, and reliable uranium enrichment services for power generation while working within a framework of high regulatory and safety standards. Urenco USA’s world-class facility in southeastern New Mexico plays a vital role in supporting U.S. energy production, energy security, jobs, and manufacturing. To learn more, visit www.urencousa.com.
Contact:
Jeremy Derryberry
Director of Communications, Urenco USA
Jeremy.Derryberry@urenco.com
505-975-3844
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About Urenco
Urenco is an international supplier of uranium enrichment services, fuel cycle products and related solutions with sustainability at the core of our business. Operating in a pivotal area of the nuclear fuel supply chain for over 50 years, Urenco understands the importance of energy security and facilitates the reliable delivery of low carbon electricity generation for consumers around the world.
With its head office in London, UK, Urenco’s global presence ensures diversity and security of supply for customers through enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Through our technology and the expertise of our people, the Urenco Group provides safe, cost effective and reliable services, operating within a framework of high environmental, social and governance standards, complementing international safeguards.
Urenco is making a positive contribution to global climate change goals through our core business and we are committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
We are committed to continued investment in the responsible management of nuclear materials; innovation activities with clear sustainability benefits, such as nuclear medicine, industrial efficiency and research; and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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