BWXT Technologies said Thursday a subsidiary company has received a $241.5 million contract from the National Nuclear Security Administration to downblend 10.4 metric tons of highly enriched uranium to a proliferation-resistant low-enriched form available for use as commercial nuclear reactor fuel.
The Nuclear Fuel Services contract is due to last through early 2019, according to a BWXT press release.
“NFS plays a key role in the non-proliferation process – turning highly enriched uranium into fuel for our nation’s commercial nuclear power plants,” BWXT President and CEO Peyton Baker said in the release. “We are very pleased to continue providing our services and support to the NNSA and its prime contractor in this very important area.”
The Erwin, Tenn.-based subsidiary operates a plant that converts HEU into material that can be refined into reactor fuel, along with providing uranium fuel for U.S. nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers. A spokesperson for NSF said work under this contract has already begun.
The company referred additional questions to the NNSA, which had not responded to a request for information by press time Friday.
