KEY POINTS
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Centrus Energy’s $1.58 billion Pike County, Ohio expansion is anticipated to create 300 permanent jobs and peak with 1,000 construction workers.
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The project will expand US capacity for enriched uranium production, strengthening advanced reactors, energy security, and defense while reducing reliance on Russian uranium supply.
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Surging AI-driven power demand and grid pressures drive the multi-year build, supported by a nationwide supply chain and advanced centrifuge technology.
Centrus Energy’s expansion of its Pike County, Ohio, uranium enrichment facility, valued at $1.58 billion, is expected to generate demand for more than 1,000 construction workers, making it one of the region’s largest industrial builds in a decade.
In a statement on September 25, 2025, Centrus announced that the extent of the planned build to upgrade and expand the existing American Centrifuge Plant near Piketon is contingent on federal funding from the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Closing the Uranium Enrichment Gap
Since shutting down its Cold War-era plants in 2013, the US has lacked a domestic, industrial-scale uranium enrichment capability, creating challenges for energy security, advanced reactor fuel, naval propulsion, and national defense.
Restoring Domestic Enriched Uranium Supply
If the project goes ahead at full scale, it would amount to a multi-billion-dollar investment from both public and private sources in Ohio to increase production of Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU).
High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium is currently believed to be entirely sourced from Russia. The Department of Energy states, “Most advanced reactor designs require HALEU to achieve smaller designs, longer operating cycles, and increased efficiencies over current technologies.”
The DOE added, “HALEU is not currently available from domestic suppliers, and gaps in supply could delay the deployment of advanced reactors.”
The Centrus American Centrifuge Plant is the only facility in the US currently producing High-Assay Low-Enriched uranium (HALEU).
Construction Workforce Impact Expected
The company stated that the expansion is anticipated to add 300 permanent jobs for ongoing plant operations and support a peak construction workforce of 1,000.
In addition to core facility upgrades, the project is likely to involve work on site infrastructure, enhanced security measures, and industry-specific systems required for uranium enrichment.
Anticipated construction roles among the 1,000 expected could range from general laborers and equipment operators to highly specialized electricians and safety specialists who can navigate the complex requirements of working at a nuclear facility.
HALEU cascade centrifuges, like these components shown in the image, are used to produce uranium for advanced nuclear reactors. Image: Centrus Energy
Centrus said it will build its centrifuges in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, using a nationwide supply chain that includes 14 major suppliers across 13 states. The completed centrifuges and related equipment will then be shipped to Piketon for final assembly, installation, and operation.
Growing Demand for Electric Power
The multi-year Centrus build aims to meet growing demand for domestically produced nuclear fuel amid a surge of expectations for electrical power needs. These needs are largely being driven by accelerating electricity demand forecasts, aging grid infrastructure, and the push for reliable, large-scale energy sources to support future growth.
Machine controls for the centrifuges at the Centrus uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio. Centrus Energy announced a $1.5B expansion of its American Centrifuge Plant to expand Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) production. Image: Centrus Energy
A major accelerant behind this trend is the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, with Goldman Sachs projecting that data centers, many of them scaled up specifically for AI, could more than double their power consumption by 2030.
Advanced Nuclear Power in Development
The US is developing advanced nuclear reactors that will deliver higher efficiency, better resource use, stronger safety measures, and greater versatility. Their varied sizes and innovative designs are expected to bring clean energy to more communities.
Centrus Energy is a US supplier of nuclear fuel and services that, since 1998, has provided its utility customers with more than 1,850 reactor years of fuel.
According to the company, this is equivalent to over 7 billion tons of coal. Its work in High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium production aims to help restore US enrichment capabilities for clean energy, energy security, and national security.
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