X-energy and Centrus Energy have signed a definitive agreement for Centrus to supply low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for X-Energy’s advanced reactor fuel on Aug. 6.
The Rockville, Md.-based advanced small modular reactor (SMR) said in a press release that the agreement would help de-risk its Xe-100 SMR projects and supply HALEU for a portion of its incoming fuel demands. Under the agreement, X-energy will provide prepayments to Centrus to support its enrichment services program, according to Centrus’ press release.
Centrus said the deal is its first large-scale commercial HALEU supply agreement, as the HALEU market has not fully emerged yet.
“This is another significant agreement that validates Centrus as the go-to, de-risked supplier of HALEU to the global market,” Amir Vexler, Centrus president and CEO, said. “Our work in Piketon and Oak Ridge is strengthening a U.S.-based nuclear fuel supply chain and is removing enrichment as a point of concern for the advanced reactor community.
Through the partnership, HALEU enriched at Centrus’ American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio will be supplied to X-energy’s subsidiary TRISO-X’s fuel fabrication campus in Oak Ridge, Tenn. There in Oak Ridge, TRISO-X will use the HALEU to make tri-structural isotropic – or TRISO fuel for its Xe-100 SMR.
“X-energy is pleased to take the next step in our strategy to secure a portion of the HALEU our current and future customers will need to deploy advanced reactors at scale,” X-energy CEO Clay Sell said. “Our approach is to build a resilient, long-term fuel supply strategy by partnering with enrichment providers that are investing in new HALEU production capacity.”
Prior to its deal with Centrus, X-energy received HALEU for its Dow SMR project in Texas from the Department of Energy through the HALEU Availability Program. With the new agreement, X-energy pushes towards commercialization as its SMR project in Texas is under review with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Additionally, the company’s fuel fabrication facility in Oak Ridge received a 40-year special nuclear material license in February to allow it to manufacture nuclear fuel using HALEU.