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Energy Secretary Chris Wright says U.S. expanding domestic uranium enrichment capacity; timeline may extend beyond three years
Summary
Secretary Chris Wright said an existing Ohio enrichment plant is adding centrifuges, two large plants will enter construction soon and additional capacity will come online within about two years, but some larger facilities may take longer than a prior two-to-three-year estimate.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Friday that the United States is expanding domestic uranium enrichment capacity but that some projects may take longer than previously estimated.
Asked whether a new enrichment plant would be built in the prior two-to-three-year time frame, Wright said an Ohio plant is already adding centrifuges and that two large plants will begin construction soon. "We will have additional capacity coming on this year, a little more next year. Uh some bigger plants may be outside of that window," he said.
Wright framed the expansion as part of a push to reduce reliance on Russian-enriched uranium and to align with congressional direction: "We will no longer use Russian enriched uranium, nor will Europe or most of the rest of the world," he said, adding that the effort would comply "with the law of Congress."
He did not provide firm dates for the larger facilities or the total capacity expected when the new plants are completed. The secretary said the administration is working with partners in Europe and elsewhere to shift enrichment supply chains away from adversaries and said he would continue efforts to speed domestic production where feasible.
