US firm produces enriched uranium above 5% for nuclear reactor fuel

Urenco USA has become the first commercial uranium enrichment facility in the United States to produce uranium enriched above 5 percent U-235, achieving enrichment levels up to 8.5 percent. This milestone marks the company’s ability to produce low enriched uranium plus (LEU+), enriched between 5-10 percent U-235, with plans to begin commercial-scale production by mid-2026. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorized Urenco USA in September 2025 to enrich uranium up to 10 percent U-235, enabling the company to offer flexible fuel solutions for current and advanced nuclear reactors. This development is expected to reduce U.S. reliance on Russian nuclear fuel imports. LEU+ offers several advantages for the nuclear industry, including supporting longer operating cycles and reducing costs for existing light-water reactors, enabling deployment of new accident-tolerant fuel designs, and accelerating the commercialization of advanced reactor technologies. Additionally, LEU+ can serve as feedstock for producing high-assay low