Fluor Selected for Centrus Uranium Enrichment Plant Expansion in Ohio
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) has announced that it has been awarded a significant multi-year contract by American Centrifuge Operating, LLC, a subsidiary of Centrus Energy. Under this agreement, Fluor will act as the integrated engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner for the expansion of Centrus’ uranium enrichment facility in Piketon, Ohio. This facility specializes in producing both low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), critical components for nuclear energy production and advanced reactor technologies.
This contract represents a crucial step in a multi-billion-dollar investment plan that includes public and private funding to increase the number of centrifuges at the American Centrifuge Plant. The expansion will allow the facility to meet growing domestic and international demand for enriched uranium, bolstering the United States’ strategic energy infrastructure.
Fluor’s Role in the Expansion
Fluor will provide comprehensive support throughout the project, taking responsibility for the entire engineering, procurement, and construction lifecycle. Specifically, Fluor’s responsibilities include:
- Engineering and Design: Fluor will lead all engineering and design work required to expand the facility’s enrichment capacity. This includes designing systems that safely and efficiently scale up uranium enrichment processes.
- Supply Chain and Procurement Management: The company will manage procurement of critical materials and services necessary for the expansion, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to strict quality and safety standards.
- Construction Oversight: Fluor will supervise construction activities at the Piketon site, ensuring projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Commissioning Support: Once construction is complete, Fluor will support the commissioning of the new capacity to ensure smooth operational startup.
Al Collins, Business Group President of Mission Solutions at Fluor, emphasized the strategic significance of this project:
This project secures Fluor’s foundational position in the critical U.S. uranium enrichment market by supporting the re-establishment of a domestic low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium capability. We are proud of our long-term relationship with Centrus and to be a part of a team that supports the revitalization of the United States’ nuclear fuel supply chain.
Centrus Energy’s Expansion Vision
Amir Vexler, President and CEO of Centrus Energy, highlighted the importance of Fluor’s involvement:
This is another critical milestone for us as we begin our expansion in earnest. Fluor is a global leader with decades of experience managing complex nuclear construction projects and is an ideal partner as we transition to a large-scale deployment. With centrifuge manufacturing already underway, we are moving full speed ahead with our expansion.
The expansion is designed to position Centrus as a leading provider of LEU for existing nuclear reactors. Additionally, it will enable the facility to produce HALEU, which is increasingly required for advanced nuclear reactors expected to play a key role in the next generation of carbon-free energy solutions.
Strategic Importance of LEU and HALEU
Low-enriched uranium (LEU) is essential for fueling conventional nuclear reactors that provide reliable, carbon-free electricity. HALEU, on the other hand, is a higher concentration form of enriched uranium that will be critical for new advanced reactors. These next-generation reactors are designed to operate more efficiently and safely while supporting decarbonization goals across the power sector.
The Piketon, Ohio plant is one of only two licensed LEU-production facilities in the United States. Importantly, it is the only licensed HALEU-production facility in the Western world. This unique capability makes the expansion strategically important for national energy security and positions Centrus at the forefront of the global nuclear fuel market.
Economic and Job Creation Impact
The expansion is expected to create more than 1,300 jobs in Ohio, including construction, engineering, and operational roles. Beyond employment, the project will stimulate local economic growth by increasing demand for materials, services, and support industries in the region.
By generating high-quality jobs and attracting skilled professionals, the expansion will also strengthen the local workforce and support community development initiatives. This aligns with broader goals of revitalizing the nuclear sector while ensuring economic benefits are shared locally.
Enhancing U.S. Energy Security
The project has far-reaching implications beyond economic benefits. By increasing domestic LEU and HALEU production, the expansion helps reduce reliance on foreign sources of enriched uranium. This contributes to the resilience of the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain, which is critical for national security, energy independence, and the continued operation of nuclear reactors that supply clean electricity across the country.
Fluor’s expertise in managing large-scale nuclear construction projects ensures that the expansion will meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. This makes the partnership between Fluor and Centrus a critical component of the U.S. strategy to strengthen its nuclear energy capabilities.
SOURCE LINK: https://www.businesswire.com/
