Uranium Enrichment Resumes at Southern Ohio Centrus Plant for First Time in a Generation
Last week, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga took part in a Centrus Energy announcement that with the support of the U.S. Department of Energy they have begun enrichment operations at its High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) facility in Piketon, Ohio. It is the only NRC-licensed HALEU facility in the United States and the first new U.S.-owned, U.S.-technology uranium enrichment plant to begin production since 1954.
Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, National Association of Building Trade Unions President Sean McGarvey, National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons, and Pike County Commissioner Tony Montgomery joined Centrus President and CEO Daniel Poneman to mark this historic milestone in the restoration of U.S. nuclear leadership.
Last year, the DOE under the Biden administration announced a $150-million, shared-cost program with the company for the Piketon project that included a $30-million cost share during the first year to startup and operate 16 centrifuges.
Also, the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress in 2022 includes $700 million to support the development of a domestic supply chain for HALEU, and Congress is weighing more support of as much as $2.4 billion.
“It’s remarkable what we can accomplish in the truly American public, private partnership model. For the first time ever, an American company is producing HALEU on American soil, providing critical fuel for advanced nuclear reactors, a statement that America’s committed to our energy security,” Deputy Energy Secretary Turk said at the event.
President Burga echoed those comments and praised the skill of Ohio's workforce. "Federal investment into Ohio is being leveraged by corporations recognizing our world-class workforce to advance our nation’s energy and security interests. This project shows that when labor is at the table with our public officials and with business, we can achieve great results with good-paying jobs and safety standards our communities can be proud of," said Burga.