Uranium enrichment is getting underway this week at a facility in southern Ohio, a federally authorized demonstration project considered critical to produce the type of fuel needed for newer, more efficient nuclear reactors.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Centrus Energy Corp. will be producing the high-assay, low-enriched uranium at the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, about 68 miles (109 kilometers) south of Columbus. That form of uranium contains far more of the isotope U-235 than is typically found in current nuclear reactor fuel.
This is not HEU. HEU can be used to make weapons. This is to make HALEU (high-assay low enriched uranium) which is a legal designation up to 20% enrichment in U-235. Yes, we absolutely need more HALEU in the world right now to generate more clean electricity from nuclear energy to combat climate change. Many advanced reactor designs rely on HALEU.