en.Wedoany.com Reported - BWX Technologies announced that it has notified the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of its plan to apply for a license for a new uranium enrichment facility near its Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) facility in Erwin, Tennessee. This notification facilitates NRC's resource planning to support the review process. BWXT expects to submit the application in the first quarter of 2027.
The licensing effort for the Erwin facility directly supports the previously announced $1.5 billion contract BWXT has with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). BWXT aims to help the U.S. restore a fully domestic uranium enrichment capability for defense and naval propulsion missions, solidifying its decades-long support for the nation's defense nuclear programs.
By notifying the NRC, BWXT formally initiates the pre-application communication process. During this period, it will work closely with the regulator to develop and submit a detailed license application covering facility design, safety systems, security plans, and environmental requirements.
Rex D. Geveden, President and Chief Executive Officer of BWXT, stated that establishing a reliable U.S. uranium enrichment capability is critical to ensuring long-term fuel supply for national security needs such as naval nuclear propulsion. The planned facility will utilize advanced centrifuge technology and BWXT's advanced manufacturing capabilities to provide the U.S. with a stable supply of enriched uranium.
The new enrichment facility will employ technology developed through the Domestic Uranium Enrichment Centrifuge Experiment (DUECE) program, funded by NNSA at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Erwin project will first validate the enrichment technology in a production environment, ultimately producing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for the NNSA's Naval Reactors program. It is expected to be operational around 2035, creating approximately 100 high-skilled jobs.
BWXT selected the Erwin site due to its proximity to NFS and the ability to leverage existing NRC-regulated nuclear operations, security and safety infrastructure, and a skilled local workforce.
In January of this year, BWXT opened its Centrifuge Manufacturing Development Facility (CMDF) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This serves as its primary center for designing, engineering, manufacturing, and testing advanced gas centrifuges, aiming to accelerate the transition of centrifuge technology from research and development to production and enhance domestic U.S. enrichment capability. Additionally, BWXT is exploring various options to further support the NNSA's defense fuel programs.
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