DOE to Water Down Nuke Uranium for Green Reactor Fuel
Published Date: 7/25/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Energy is changing its plan to turn about 2.2 metric tons of super-strong uranium into a safer, less enriched form called HALEU at the Savannah River Site starting around 2025. This HALEU will be sent offsite to make fuel for nuclear reactors instead of being treated as waste. This shift affects how uranium is handled, saves disposal costs, and supports cleaner energy goals over the next few years.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
DOE to Produce HALEU and Ship to Vendors
DOE will blend down about 2.2 metric tons (MT) of highly enriched uranium (HEU) at H‑Area, Savannah River Site, to make high‑assay low‑enriched uranium (HALEU). DOE expects blending to begin as early as 2025 and continue for about 2 to 4 years, and will transport the HALEU liquid to offsite commercial vendors to be fabricated into reactor fuel.
HEU Not Sent to SRS High‑Level Waste Disposal
Because the 2.2 MT of HEU will be blended down for use in reactor fuel, DOE will not send that material to the Savannah River Site liquid high‑level waste (HLW) management system for disposal as described in the previously amended Record of Decision. The change is expected to affect how the material is handled and to reduce the amount sent for HLW disposal over the multi‑year blending period.
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