Urenco USA Provides Significant Socioeconomic Benefits at the Local, Regional and National Level

EUNICE, N.M. – A new report by Oxford Economics has found that Urenco USA’s operations contributed more than $360 million towards the United States’ economy last year and supported more than 1,700 jobs at its New Mexico plant, in the surrounding local communities, and across the country. 

The socioeconomic impact assessment reflected that the Eunice site supported a $363.6 million contribution to U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024.

For every one dollar of the company’s value-added economic activity, another $0.70 of economic activity was supported in the U.S. economy, and for every job at the company’s facility in New Mexico, another 2.1 jobs were supported elsewhere in the U.S. economy.

Urenco USA is the United States’ only commercial-scale producer of low-enriched uranium, which is used as fuel for the country’s 94 commercial nuclear power plants. It has the current capacity to meet approximately one-third of U.S. needs for enrichment services, and new capacity is being added through an ongoing expansion project. 

Local Impact

In the local areas around the Urenco USA uranium enrichment plant, which is located in the southeast corner of New Mexico on the border with Texas, the report found that the company’s operations stimulated more than $275 million in contributions to the GDP in New Mexico and Texas and created $0.30 of economic activity for every one dollar of the company’s value-added economic activity in the surrounding area.

• Overall, the facility supported 1,060 jobs in New Mexico and Texas, which included 560 employees and contractors employed at the company’s facility in 2024, 150 jobs in New Mexico and Texas supported through supply chain expenditures, and 350 jobs supported through wage spending. 
• Employees and contractors at the facility received an average compensation of $119,000, which was approximately 60% higher than the regional and national averages. 
• For every 10 jobs at the facility, an additional nine jobs were supported elsewhere in New Mexico and Texas.
• These jobs provided an estimated total of $99.1 million in labor income across the three categories of direct, indirect and induced impacts.
• Urenco USA’s employees and contractors demonstrated high productivity levels compared with the averages in both the region and the United States. In 2024, Gross Value Added (GVA) per employee and contractor stood at $391,000, or more than 200% higher than the average worker productivity in the regional economy and in the U.S. economy as a whole. 

Domestic Supply Chain

The company purchased $68.6 million worth of goods and services from U.S. suppliers across 37 states and the District of Columbia in 2024. 

• Major supplier categories included engineering services, security services, construction services, manufacturing, and utilities. 
• The top 10 states for supplier spending were New Mexico, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Colorado and accounted for more than 80% of the company’s total domestic spending. 
• Locally, New Mexico and Texas accounted for approximately 35% of domestic procurement spending in 2024.
• UUSA’s spending with U.S. suppliers stimulated an estimated $62.2 million in GDP, 500 jobs, $42.1 million in labor compensation paid to workers, and $13.8 million in taxes.  

Social Impact

Urenco USA actively contributes to charitable and educational programs in its local communities through financial contributions and volunteer efforts. In 2024, the company made $812,200 in financial contributions to local education initiatives and charitable organizations.

• Urenco USA has formed partnerships with charitable organizations in the region, and total charitable contributions made by the company and its employees in 2024 were $624,300.
• Employees volunteered for more than 4,000 hours over the course of the year through events like the annual 9/11 Day of Service, which supports organizations in the local communities of Eunice and Hobbs, New Mexico, and by serving on local community non-profit boards, organizing and supporting local events, and by providing mentorship to future engineers and technicians. 
• Urenco USA invested more than $187,900 in skills and education locally in 2024, including curating Richie Enrichment Science Workshops for middle school students, CTECH Workforce Training for high school students, offering summer internships for college students, and by establishing an energy technology degree with New Mexico Junior College.

Urenco USA commissioned the report using 2024 data to quantify its impact at the local, state, and national level, in particular in the areas of GDP, employment,  education, and charitable giving, as it looks to make further investments in the site in future years, including adding new capacity and constructing new facilities to ensure the long-term reliability of the facility to meet U.S. nuclear fuel needs. 

John Kirkpatrick, managing director for Urenco USA said: “From fueling reliable electricity production across the country to inspiring the next generation in our local schools, Urenco USA and our employees make substantial contributions at a local, regional, and national level, as evidenced by the results seen in the Oxford Economics report.”

David Gallegos, New Mexico State Senator, said: “I have seen the impact that Urenco USA has made to our community. I have witnessed some of the ‘hands on projects’ that they have accomplished in our community that focus on helping improve our local residents’ quality of life. I have also been on our local school board for 24 years, and I am impressed with the program they have for the 5th grade students. Urenco has been very generous to many of our nonprofit organizations. Whether here at home or in Santa Fe at the Capital, Urenco is always looking for ways to help Eunice, and the State of New Mexico.”

Jennifer Grassham, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Lea County said: “Urenco USA is an integral part of our regional economy and one of our largest energy employers, providing high-paying, highly skilled jobs that strengthen both our workforce and our community. As a world-class facility, Urenco sets the standard for excellence in advanced energy operations while investing deeply in the future of our region through strong partnerships with New Mexico Junior College and CTECH High School. This commitment to workforce development ensures a sustainable talent pipeline and long-term economic vitality for southeastern New Mexico.”

Becca Titus, president & CEO of the United Way of Lea County said: “It’s such an honor to recognize Urenco USA, a partner that has stood with United Way of Lea County as our top sponsor for the past 18 years. Year after year, Urenco USA leads with purpose. Their employees consistently show up as volunteers ready to help wherever the need is. Their willingness to serve reflects a culture rooted in compassion, teamwork, and responsibility. Urenco USA truly embodies what it means to be a United Way partner connecting people, resources, and hope in a way that brings our community full circle.”

You can read the full report here. 

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.

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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