TheTechno Optimist.

Urenco USA Eunice expansionUrenco—Urenco to build a 2.1 million SWU enrichment plant in New Mexico, lifting the site past 7 million SWUUrenco USA Eunice expansionUrenco—Fifth new cascade starts production at Urenco USAUrenco USA Eunice expansionUrenco—Urenco USA starts its fourth new cascade, halfway through a 700,000 SWU expansion

Urenco USA Eunice expansion

by UrencoGB

Grow US enrichment fast enough to replace Russian enriched uranium, banned from 2028, and to fuel new reactors. Eunice already covers about a third of US demand; this lifts it past 7 million SWU a year.

ScalingStage 5 of 5

Five of eight new cascades running (June 2026); a new 2.1M SWU plant follows from 2029.

Updated 22 Jun 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Eighth and last cascade: 700,000 SWU added
  1. First new cascade of the expansion starts producingMay 2025Complete.
  2. NRC approval to enrich up to 10% U-235 announced2 Oct 2025Complete.
  3. First US commercial LEU+ run, at 8.5% U-235Dec 2025Complete.
  4. Fourth new cascade: halfway through the 700,000 SWU programme30 Mar 2026Complete.
  5. New 2.1 million SWU plant announced, privately funded2 Jun 2026Complete.
  6. Fifth new cascade starts production22 Jun 2026Complete.
  7. Eighth and last cascade: 700,000 SWU addedTarget Q1 2027Current milestone.
  8. Refurbishment of existing cascades beginsTarget 2027Not yet reached.
  9. Construction of the new plant beginsTarget 2029Not yet reached.
  10. First production from the new plantTarget 2032Not yet reached.
  11. New plant fully built; site above 7 million SWU a yearTarget 2036Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

  1. Q1 2027Eighth and last cascade: 700,000 SWU added (next)
  2. 2027Refurbishment of existing cascades begins
  3. Q1 2027Last of eight new cascades online
  4. 1 Jan 2028US waivers for Russian enriched uranium end
  5. 2029Construction of the new plant begins
  6. 2032First production from the new plant
  7. 2036New plant fully built; site above 7 million SWU a year
Primer