The site continues to meet demand for HALEU
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The Y-12 National Security Complex met high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) demand ahead of schedule for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Y-12 has a historic and ongoing mission to support research reactors and isotope production to produce HALEU metal. Y-12 is also supporting advanced reactor demand by shipping scrap material, which is then processed and converted into HALEU oxide for industry.
“Since Fiscal Year 2020, the milestone has been completed each year,” said Martin Williamson, senior director of Global Security and Strategic Partnerships at Y-12. “The team has consistently performed at a high level, staying ahead of schedule, clearly demonstrating Y-12’s capabilities and our dedication to supporting this important mission.”
HALEU is uranium that has enrichment levels between 5% and 20% of the fissile isotope U-235—higher than conventional commercial reactor fuel (~5%). Y-12’s HALEU fuels 80% of non-Russian/Chinese research reactors globally and provides targets for Mo-99, supporting 78% of worldwide nuclear medicine procedures. Supplying HALEU instead of highly enriched uranium significantly reduces global proliferation risks.
Supporting demonstrations and development
HALEU is vital for next-generation small modular and advanced reactors due to improved efficiencies and smaller designs.
While not producing for commercial power, Y-12 processes stored uranium and provides the material to DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) for advanced reactor demonstrations and fuel fabrication development, directly supporting Presidential Executive Orders 14299, “Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security” and 14301, “Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy.” Under contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the site has consistently exceeded production goals since 2020.
“Y-12 clearly plays a key role in producing HALEU for research reactors,” said Todd Ailes, president and CEO of CNS. “Our team’s effort in increasing production of this important material ensures we continue to support that ongoing mission while making additional material available for demonstration and development of next-generation nuclear fuels.”
Meeting demand with expertise
In early FY 2026, NNSA’s Y-12 Field Office (YFO) and CNS facilitated an expedited HALEU oxide shipment for DOE-NE and Radiant Industries, Inc. to fuel fabricator Standard Nuclear. Supporting Executive Order 14301, the feedstock will be fabricated into TRISO (TRi-structural ISOtropic) particle fuel and tested at Idaho National Laboratory to accelerate advanced reactor licensing.
“Uranium has been at the center of Y-12’s operations since the Manhattan Project,” said Mary Helen Hitson, NNSA YFO manager. “It is satisfying to see the site’s expertise continue to support advanced medicine as well as research and development for energy production.”
A high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) metal log.