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Urenco to Boost U.S. Uranium Enrichment Capacity by Nearly 50%

By Charles Kennedy - Jun 02, 2026,

Urenco USA has announced plans for a major expansion of the National Enrichment Facility in Eunice, New Mexico, committing a multi-billion-dollar investment to increase uranium enrichment capacity by nearly 50% and reinforce the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain.

The project will add 2.1 million separative work units (SWU) of enrichment capacity through the installation of up to 24 new centrifuge cascades using the company's gas centrifuge technology. Initial production from the expansion is expected to begin in 2032, with additional cascades coming online through 2036.

The expansion comes as the United States seeks to strengthen domestic nuclear fuel capabilities amid growing interest in both existing nuclear generation and next-generation reactor technologies. Low-enriched uranium (LEU), the primary product of the facility, fuels the current U.S. commercial reactor fleet, which generates roughly one-fifth of the nation's electricity. LEU is also a key feedstock for producing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), a fuel expected to be required by many advanced reactor designs planned for deployment in the next decade.

Urenco currently operates the only commercial-scale uranium enrichment facility in the United States. The plant's existing capacity stands at 4.3 million SWU annually, equivalent to about one-third of current U.S. enrichment demand. An ongoing expansion project adding another 700,000 SWU is scheduled for completion in 2027, while refurbishment work on existing capacity is also planned. Combined with the newly announced investment, the facility's installed capacity is expected to exceed 7 million SWU over the next decade.

The project is expected to support between 300 and 600 construction jobs at peak activity and create approximately 70 permanent operational positions. Urenco USA already employs more than 500 workers and contractors at the site, which has been operating commercially since 2010.

The New Mexico expansion forms part of a broader strategy by Urenco Global to add 4.6 million SWU of enrichment capacity across facilities in the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany. The move reflects a wider effort among Western nations to reduce dependence on Russian nuclear fuel services and build more resilient supply chains as governments increasingly view nuclear power as a key component of energy security and decarbonization strategies.

Urenco said customer commitments through new long-term contracts helped support the investment decision, underscoring growing demand for domestic enrichment services from U.S. utilities.