Fluor Selected as Engineering, Procurement and Construction Partner for Expansion of Centrus’ Uranium Enrichment Plant in Ohio
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low-enriched uraniumtechnical
Low-enriched uranium is uranium that has been processed so the amount of the fissionable isotope U-235 is raised but kept below 20 percent, making it suitable for use as fuel in most commercial nuclear reactors while reducing its usefulness for weapons. Investors care because it is the primary commodity that powers nuclear plants, so its availability, production costs, regulatory controls and geopolitical supply risks directly affect energy companies, utility revenues and firms involved in mining and enrichment — similar to how gasoline supply and price influence transportation businesses.
high-assay low-enriched uraniumtechnical
High-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) is uranium processed to contain a higher percentage of the atom that sustains a nuclear chain reaction (U‑235) than standard reactor fuel but well below weapons-grade, typically about 5–20% U‑235. It matters to investors because HALEU is the preferred fuel for many advanced reactors and some medical isotope production, so its availability, production capacity, regulation and geopolitical risks can materially affect project timelines, supplier contracts and valuation of companies in the nuclear supply chain.
LEUtechnical
The leu is the basic unit of money used in Romania and also the name of Moldova’s currency; think of it like the dollar or euro for those countries. For investors, amounts quoted in lei indicate the currency that assets, earnings, or prices are measured in, so exchange-rate moves and local purchasing power directly affect the value of investments when converted to an investor’s home currency.
HALEUtechnical
HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) is uranium fuel enriched to a higher level than traditional reactor fuel but below weapons-grade, roughly like a higher-octane gasoline for nuclear reactors. It matters to investors because this fuel enables newer, smaller and more efficient reactors to run longer or produce more power from less material, so availability, regulation and production costs can affect utilities, reactor developers and mining companies’ prospects.
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that it has been awarded a multi-year contract by Centrus Energy’s subsidiary, American Centrifuge Operating, LLC. Fluor will serve as the integrated engineering, procurement and construction partner to expand its low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) enrichment facility in Piketon, Ohio.
Ground floor-side view of the HALEU cascade centrifuges
This contract is part of a multi-billion dollar public and private investment plan to add thousands of additional centrifuges at Centrus’ American Centrifuge Plant. Fluor will lead engineering and design of the expanded capacity in Ohio, manage the supply chain and procurement of key materials and services, oversee construction at the site, and support the commissioning of the new capacity.
“This project secures Fluor's foundational position in the critical U.S. uranium enrichment market by supporting the re-establishment of a domestic low-enriched uranium and high-assay low-enriched uranium capability,” said Al Collins, Business Group President, Mission Solutions. “We are proud of our long-term relationship with Centrus and to be a part of a team that supports the revitalization of the United States’ nuclear fuel supply chain.”
“This is another critical milestone for us as we begin our expansion in earnest,” said Centrus President and CEO Amir Vexler. “Fluor is a global leader with decades of experience managing complex nuclear construction projects and is an ideal partner as we transition to a large-scale deployment. With centrifuge manufacturing already underway, we are moving full speed ahead with our expansion.”
The expansion project will establish Centrus as a leading LEU provider for existing reactors. It will also expand its current capacity to produce HALEU, which will be needed in the next few years to power a new generation of advanced reactors to meet the world’s growing need for carbon-free electricity. The Piketon, Ohio plant is one of two licensed LEU-production facilities in the United States and the only licensed HALEU-production facility in the Western world.
The project is expected to create more than 1,300 Ohio jobs during construction and operation, contribute to local economic growth, and serve as a critical asset in the nation’s energy infrastructure and national security.
About Fluor Corporation
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) is building a better world by applying world-class expertise to solve its clients’ greatest challenges. Fluor’s nearly 27,000 employees provide professional and technical solutions that deliver safe, well-executed, capital-efficient projects to clients around the world. Fluor had revenue of $16.3 billion in 2024 and is ranked 257 among the Fortune 500 companies. With headquarters in Irving, Texas, Fluor has provided engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services for more than a century. For more information, please visit www.fluor.com or follow Fluor on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
