Orano Advances US Energy Security Plans with Federally Supported Enrichment Project

Orano Advances US Energy Security Plans with Federally Supported Enrichment Project

(IN BRIEF) Orano has been chosen by the US Department of Energy to receive up to 900 million US dollars in funding to support the construction of a new uranium enrichment facility in the United States, representing a total investment of nearly 5 billion US dollars. Planned for Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the IKE project aims to strengthen domestic nuclear fuel supply ahead of the 2028 ban on Russian uranium imports and to support growing electricity demand driven by data centres and artificial intelligence. The project complements Orano’s ongoing enrichment capacity expansion in France and reinforces the company’s role in building resilient, low-carbon energy infrastructure across Western markets.

(PRESS RELEASE) SEINE, 6-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Orano has secured a major commitment from the US Department of Energy, which has selected the group to receive up to 900 million US dollars in federal funding to support the development of a new uranium enrichment facility in the United States. The large-scale industrial project represents a total investment approaching 5 billion US dollars and is intended to reinforce long-term energy security for the US nuclear sector.

The decision confirms strong governmental backing for Orano’s plan to establish a commercial enrichment plant at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. With the funding selection now confirmed, the group is moving into the next phase of development, including finalising contractual arrangements with US authorities and preparing a licensing application to be submitted to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the first half of 2026.

Referred to as the IKE project, the facility is designed to provide a dependable domestic source of enriched uranium for US nuclear power operators. The project directly supports national policy objectives as the United States prepares to prohibit imports of Russian-origin uranium from 2028. By strengthening domestic enrichment capacity, the plant is expected to help stabilise fuel supply for existing reactors while reducing exposure to geopolitical risk.

Beyond regulatory drivers, the project also responds to rapidly rising electricity demand across the United States. Growth in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data centre infrastructure is placing increasing pressure on power systems, heightening the need for continuous, low-carbon, and cost-efficient energy generation. Nuclear power, supported by secure fuel supply, is positioned as a key contributor to meeting these demands.

The US enrichment facility will operate alongside Orano’s parallel expansion efforts in Europe. In France, the group is currently extending capacity at its Georges Besse 2 enrichment plant, part of a broader strategy to increase supply for Western energy markets. Orano has operated enrichment facilities at the Tricastin site for more than four decades, using ultra-centrifugation technology recognised for its operational efficiency and relatively low environmental footprint.

Commenting on the announcement, Nicolas Maes, Chief Executive Officer of Orano, described the funding decision as a pivotal moment for the company’s US ambitions, noting that it reflects institutional confidence in Orano’s technical capabilities and its ability to deliver secure nuclear fuel solutions at scale.

François Lurin, Senior Executive Vice President of the Chemistry-Enrichment Business Unit, added that the US facility represents a significant industrial and strategic investment for the group. He highlighted Orano’s intention to progress both its US and French enrichment projects in parallel, with production from the US site targeted for the early part of the next decade.

The IKE project is named in recognition of Dwight D. Eisenhower, referencing his landmark 1953 “Atoms for Peace” speech, which laid the groundwork for the peaceful development of nuclear energy worldwide.

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SOURCE: Orano