The US Energy Department said Wednesday it will conditionally supply high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU, to three companies to help meet near-term fuel needs for advanced reactors.
The department said the second round of HALEU allocations will support testing of two reactor designs and help launch a domestic fuel supply chain aimed at reviving US nuclear energy.
Many advanced reactors require the material to achieve smaller designs, longer operating cycles and greater efficiency than existing technologies.
To help fill the gap, the department created a process for developers to request fuel from Energy Department sources, including material held by the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Earlier this year, the Energy Department allocated its first HALEU supplies to five companies, three of which need deliveries in 2025.
The three new conditional recipients are Antares Nuclear, Standard Nuclear and Abilene Christian University/Natura Resources.
The department said it will now begin contracting with the companies, with some expected to receive HALEU later this year. It added that the allocation process is ongoing and more firms will be included in the future.
"President Trump has prioritized jumpstarting a true nuclear energy renaissance, and the Department of Energy is doing everything within its power to achieve this ambitious agenda, including increasing access to materials needed to fabricate advanced nuclear fuels," US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a statement.
"We're reducing our dependence on foreign-sourced minerals while giving the private sector the boost it needs to succeed," Wright added. "The HALEU allocation program is a win for the economy, energy security, and the American people."
By Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency
energ@aa.com.tr