Centrus Energy Corp. reported on October 29, 2026, that its Oak Ridge, Tennessee manufacturing plant has completed and shipped the first new centrifuge as part of the company's multi-billion-dollar expansion of uranium enrichment capacity. The centrifuge is being shipped to Ohio for final assembly, marking a milestone in connecting Tennessee manufacturing with the expansion efforts in Piketon, Ohio.
The company stated that this achievement reflects the assembly of a complete, unobligated supply chain to serve both commercial and national security markets. The shipment was completed ahead of the previously announced year-end target. The new centrifuges produced in Tennessee will be grouped into cascades, with the first new capacity expected to come online in Ohio in 2029.
In January 2026, Centrus announced a $560 million investment to expand and modernize its Oak Ridge Technology and Manufacturing Center, transitioning it to a high-rate manufacturing plant capable of supporting the production of thousands of advanced centrifuges. The company has also contracted a network of domestic suppliers and ordered tens of thousands of parts from American manufacturers to secure this supply chain. Earlier this month, Centrus completed the strategic acquisition of Westerman Holdings, a key supplier of centrifuge casings and other major components.
The existing centrifuge cascade in Ohio has been reliably producing High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) since late 2023. The expansion aims to support large-scale production of Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) for the existing reactor fleet, HALEU for next-generation reactors, and enrichment for national security needs.
