Centrus Forges Ahead with Ohio Expansion to Secure US Nuclear Future

BETHESDA, MD – December 11, 2025 – Centrus Energy has taken a concrete step toward re-establishing America's domestic uranium enrichment capabilities, announcing the start of design work for a 150,000-square-foot facility in Piketon, Ohio. While the new building is designated for training, operations, and maintenance, its true significance lies in its role as a critical enabler for a much larger, multi-billion-dollar ambition: a full-scale expansion of uranium enrichment capacity to fuel the next generation of nuclear reactors and break U.S. dependence on foreign supply chains.

The project, which involves renovating an existing building at the American Centrifuge Plant site, signals Centrus's commitment to rapidly scaling its production of both traditional Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and, more critically, High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU). This move comes at a pivotal moment for the global energy landscape, where geopolitical tensions have exposed the fragility of the nuclear fuel market.

"This is an important step forward which reflects our commitment to restoring America's ability to enrich uranium at a large scale – as quickly as possible," said Centrus President and CEO Amir Vexler in the company's announcement. "It will enable us to accommodate our growing workforce and support construction and operation of commercial scale uranium enrichment capacity in Piketon."

The Geopolitical Race for HALEU

The expansion in Piketon is not merely a corporate growth strategy; it is a direct response to a pressing national security and energy independence challenge. For years, the global supply of enriched uranium has been dominated by a few key players, with Russia's state-owned Rosatom controlling an estimated 44% of global enrichment capacity. This dominance extends to a near-monopoly on the commercial production of HALEU, the advanced fuel required by most next-generation reactor designs, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

HALEU, which is enriched to between 5% and 20% uranium-235, allows for smaller, more efficient reactor designs with longer operating cycles. These advanced reactors are considered essential for meeting future clean energy goals and providing power for a range of applications, from remote communities to industrial processes. However, the lack of a secure, domestic HALEU supply chain has been a major roadblock for U.S. reactor developers.

The urgency of this situation was codified in May 2024, when the U.S. enacted a ban on Russian uranium imports, set to take full effect by 2028. This legislative action created a clear imperative: the U.S. must build its own enrichment capacity or risk ceding leadership in advanced nuclear technology. The supply gap is stark. The Department of Energy projects a need for over 40 metric tons of HALEU by 2030, a figure expected to grow annually. In contrast, Centrus, currently the only U.S. company licensed to produce HALEU, is projected to produce just 900 kilograms in 2024 from its initial demonstration cascade.

A Phased Expansion Backed by Washington

Centrus's strategy in Piketon is a phased approach to closing this gap. The company began producing its first batches of HALEU in late 2023 under a DOE contract, proving the viability of its American-made centrifuge technology. The new Training, Operations & Maintenance Facility, designed by Burns & McDonnell, is the next logical step, providing the essential infrastructure to support a much larger workforce and the complex logistics of building and operating additional centrifuge cascades.

This expansion is a capital-intensive endeavor that hinges on a powerful public-private partnership. The U.S. government has recognized the market failure—often called the "chicken and egg" problem—where private companies were hesitant to invest billions in HALEU production without firm orders from reactor developers, who in turn couldn't finalize designs without a guaranteed fuel source.

To break this impasse, Washington has committed substantial funding. The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $700 million to establish a HALEU Availability Program, while a March 2024 congressional appropriation directed $2.72 billion toward boosting domestic enrichment capabilities for both LEU and HALEU. Centrus is a primary candidate to receive a significant portion of this support, which is designed to de-risk the massive upfront investment and create a reliable market for domestically produced fuel. The full scope of the multi-billion-dollar expansion, which could create 1,000 construction jobs, remains contingent on these federal funding decisions.

Ohio's Emerging Nuclear Hub

Beyond the geopolitical and technological implications, the Centrus expansion represents a major economic revitalization for southern Ohio. The Piketon site has a long history in the nuclear fuel cycle, and this new chapter promises to transform it into a hub for advanced energy manufacturing. The new facility alone is expected to house up to 200 new employees, while the full operational expansion would add another 300 permanent, high-skilled jobs to the region.

These figures, combined with the 1,000 temporary construction jobs, represent a significant economic injection for Pike County and the surrounding area. The project not only creates direct employment but also stimulates the local economy through demand for services, housing, and supplies, anchoring the region's future in the growing clean energy sector.

As the sole domestic HALEU producer, Centrus holds a critical first-mover advantage. However, the race is on, with European competitors like Urenco also announcing plans to enter the HALEU market. The success and speed of the Piketon expansion will therefore be a crucial determinant of America's ability to not only achieve energy independence but also to compete effectively in the global market for the advanced nuclear technologies that will power the coming decades. The groundwork being laid in Ohio is a foundational piece of that national strategy.