The Y-12 National Security Complex said in a press release it exceeded its fiscal 2026 lithium metal production goal by a wide margin, achieving 177% of its target.
The enriched lithium — used in nuclear weapons applications rather than commercial batteries — will be used in nuclear weapons components in the nation’s stockpile, managed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
“This achievement is a major win for America’s nuclear deterrent and a clear sign that Y-12 is delivering when the mission demands it most,” NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams said in the release. He added the site demonstrated “disciplined production performance.”
The lab did not disclose how much lithium it produced when asked by Exchange Monitor.
The release says the lithium goal follows a missed fiscal 2025 campaign tied to “structural degradation” in the aging facility, which dates to the Manhattan Project. After completing repairs and installing new access infrastructure, Y-12 resumed operations in early December 2025.