Advanced nuclear fuel
HALEU — High‑Assay Low‑Enriched Uranium.
From 0.7% in nature to just under 20%.
HALEU: For advanced reactors and SMRs. Category II material at commercial quantities.
5–20%
U-235 enrichment that defines HALEU (greater than 5%, less than 20%)
1,900+ kg
HALEU produced as UF₆ by Centrus at Piketon, Oct 2023 – Jun 2026
~3.1 t
HALEU expected from downblending ~2.2 t of HEU at Savannah River
22.8 t
Potential HALEU from used fuel at Savannah River's H Canyon
~85%
Share of the SWU for HALEU already contained in 4.95% feed material
2 of 3
About two-thirds of SMR designs in development need HALEU
Source: World Nuclear Association, High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium.
HALEU is not currently available from domestic US suppliers.
Most advanced reactor designs require HALEU, and gaps in supply could delay their deployment. The Energy Act of 2020 directed the US Department of Energy to establish the HALEU Availability Program to ensure access for civilian research, development, demonstration and commercial use.
HALEU can be produced with existing centrifuge technology, typically from 4.95% feed, or by downblending surplus highly enriched uranium. HALEU enriched to 10% U‑235 or more is a Category II material in the quantities commercial plants require, with physical security implications across enrichment, fabrication and transport.
Source: US DOE, HALEU Availability Program; WNA.
Today, only Russia and China produce HALEU at scale.
01
Russia (Tenex)
Produces at scale; only commercial supplier — no longer able to supply the US market after the 2024 import ban.
02
China
Has infrastructure to produce HALEU at scale.
03
Centrus Energy — Piketon, Ohio
Demonstration cascade since Oct 2023; expansion under a $900M DOE task order, first new capacity expected by 2029.
04
Urenco — Capenhurst, UK
Building a HALEU facility with UK government support, targeting production by 2031.
05
Orano — Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Developing a new centrifuge enrichment facility (Project IKE) with DOE support.
06
General Matter — Paducah, Kentucky
$900M DOE task order (Jan 2026); applied to the NRC for a licence in Sep 2026.
2020
Energy Act of 2020 directs DOE to establish the HALEU Availability Program.
Oct 2023
Centrus Energy begins operating a demonstration HALEU cascade at Piketon, Ohio.
May 2024
USA enacts a ban on imports of Russian uranium products.
2024
Urenco receives NRC authorization to enrich up to 10% U-235 in the USA.
Apr & Aug 2025
DOE announces conditional HALEU allocations to reactor developers.
Jan 2026
General Matter receives a $900 million DOE task order for HALEU enrichment capacity.
Jun 2026
Centrus completes the demonstration contract, having produced more than 1,900 kg of HALEU as UF₆.
Jul 2026
Centrus signs a $900 million DOE task order to expand HALEU capacity at Piketon; first new capacity expected by 2029.
Sep 2026
General Matter applies to the NRC for a licence for its planned enrichment plant at Paducah, Kentucky.