BWX Technologies and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have formally entered into a partnership aimed at increasing domestic uranium enrichment capabilities for defense purposes.
The two organizations recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining cooperation on the domestic uranium enrichment centrifuge experiment, commonly known as DUECE.
This initiative supports the Department of Energy’s broader efforts to rebuild a reliable domestic supply of enriched uranium that can be used for national security missions.
Federal officials have cited this capability as a priority as the United States seeks to reduce its dependence on foreign enrichment services for sensitive defense materials.
The agreement formalizes the collaboration that has developed around the DUECE project and establishes the framework for further research, technology development and ultimately the deployment of the enrichment system.
Steven Streifer, Director of ORNL Laboratories, commented on the partnership: “This MOU strengthens our shared commitment to DOE’s key defense priorities by combining ORNL’s innovative centrifuge designs with BWXT’s proven industrial expertise.”
“Together, we are restoring the ability the United States has not had since 2013 to securely supply enriched uranium for our national defense.”
DUECE technology and its defense applications
The DUECE program is designed to produce two categories of enriched uranium for U.S. defense programs. One is low-enriched uranium for tritium production, and the other is highly enriched uranium for naval nuclear propulsion systems.
Unlike enrichment projects related to civil nuclear power generation, DUECE technology is focused exclusively on defense applications.
Its development is in line with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) strategy, which aims to restructure critical nuclear fuel supply chains while advancing key technological milestones toward future national security capabilities.
The project also has received significant investment from the federal government. NNSA previously awarded BWXT a contract worth approximately $1.5 billion to provide licensing, manufacturing development, construction, and operations support related to the experimental enrichment system.
Role of ORNL and BWXT
ORNL serves as the design authority for the centrifugation technology used in the DUECE project. Researchers at the institute have led the research and development of this system since 2016, building on decades of expertise in uranium enrichment science.
Oak Ridge’s history in this field dates back to the early days of the U.S. nuclear program during the Manhattan Project, when the site played a central role in concentrate research and production.
BWXT brings industrial manufacturing and operational capabilities to this effort. The company, which has long supported the U.S. Navy’s nuclear propulsion and other defense fuel initiatives, will be responsible for production and facility development aspects related to centrifugal systems.
As part of the project, BWXT is developing a centrifuge manufacturing facility in Irwin, Tennessee, to support the operation of the enrichment plant using DUECE technology.
Strategic importance to the U.S. nuclear supply chain
Collaborators said the project is aimed at restoring domestic enrichment capacity in the United States, which it has lacked for more than a decade.
The partners aim to move the technology toward large-scale implementation by combining laboratory-scale innovation with industrial manufacturing capabilities.
If successful, this effort could be a key element in rebuilding a U.S.-based uranium enrichment supply chain dedicated to long-term defense requirements.
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