TheTechno Optimist.

Project IKEOrano—NRC accepts Orano's Project IKE application and aims to decide by April 2027Project IKEOrano—DOE selects Orano for up to $900 million toward Project IKE, a $5 billion US enrichment plantProject IKEOrano—Orano completes its NRC licence application for the Project IKE enrichment plant

Project IKE

by OranoFR

Build a second large commercial enrichment plant in the US so American reactors stop depending on Russian enriched uranium, banned from 2028, with production starting in the early 2030s.

ProtoStage 2 of 5

NRC accepted its licence application in May 2026 for a 12-month review; production targeted 2031.

Updated 21 May 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · NRC licensing decision
  1. Oak Ridge, Tennessee named as the preferred siteSep 2024Complete.
  2. DOE selects Orano for up to $900M in support5 Jan 2026Complete.
  3. Environmental report filed with the NRCJan 2026Complete.
  4. Licence application completed (technical part)27 Mar 2026Complete.
  5. NRC accepts the application for an accelerated review21 May 2026Complete.
  6. NRC licensing decisionTarget Apr 2027Current milestone.
  7. LEU production beginsTarget 2031Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

  1. Apr 2027NRC licensing decisionin about 25 weeks (next)
  2. 1 Jan 2028US waivers for Russian enriched uranium end
  3. 2031LEU production begins
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