No Result
View All Result
SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES
  • Login
Saturday, October 4, 2025
TheAdviserMagazine.com
  • Home
  • Financial Planning
    • Financial Planning
    • Personal Finance
  • Market Research
    • Business
    • Investing
    • Money
    • Economy
    • Markets
    • Stocks
    • Trading
  • 401k Plans
  • College
  • IRS & Taxes
  • Estate Plans
  • Social Security
  • Medicare
  • Legal
  • Home
  • Financial Planning
    • Financial Planning
    • Personal Finance
  • Market Research
    • Business
    • Investing
    • Money
    • Economy
    • Markets
    • Stocks
    • Trading
  • 401k Plans
  • College
  • IRS & Taxes
  • Estate Plans
  • Social Security
  • Medicare
  • Legal
No Result
View All Result
TheAdviserMagazine.com
No Result
View All Result
Home Market Research Markets

Inside the uranium plant at the center of U.S. plans to expand nuclear power

by TheAdviserMagazine
14 hours ago
in Markets
Reading Time: 6 mins read
A A
Inside the uranium plant at the center of U.S. plans to expand nuclear power
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LInkedIn


EUNICE, NEW MEXICO — Paul Lorskulsint was a shift manager at a brand new uranium enrichment facility deep in the American Southwest when catastrophe struck Japan in 2011.

A massive tsunami and earthquake had caused a severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Thousands of miles away in Eunice, New Mexico, Lorskulsint turned on the television to make sure his team could witness what was happening across the Pacific Ocean.

Lorskulsint knew the disaster in Japan was a watershed moment for the nuclear industry. The plant where he was leading an operations shift had just opened in 2010, after the European uranium enricher Urenco had spent years building the facility in anticipation of growing demand.

Over the ensuing decade, public support for nuclear power diminshed and a dozen reactors closed in the U.S. as the industry struggled to compete against a flood of cheap natural gas and renewable energy. Demand for the low enriched uranium that fuels nuclear plants dwindled.

“The price of what we sold basically went through the floor,” Lorskulsint, who is now the chief nuclear officer at Urenco USA, told CNBC. Urenco’s long-term contracts with utilities insulated the facility during the downturn, he said, but the price drop put further expansion plans on hold.

Paul Lorskulsint, Chief Nuclear Officer, Urenco USA talks about the uranium enrichment process.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Headquartered outside London, Urenco is joinly owned by the British and Dutch goverments and two German utilities. Its New Mexico facility is the only commercial enrichment facility left in the U.S. The last U.S.-owned commercial facility in Paducah, Kentucky, closed in 2013 and its owner the United States Enrichment Corporation went bankrupt during the downturn after Fukushima.

Fourteen years later, the situation has reversed once again. Urenco USA is racing to expand its enrichment capacity. The nuclear industry is gaining momentum as electricity demand in the U.S. is projected to surge from artificial intelligence and the push to expand domestic manufacturing. Doubts persist about whether U.S. power supplies will ramp up quick enough to meet the needs. Increasing uranium enrichment will be a key part of the process, despite the history of past disappointments. 

Also, U.S. enriched uranium supplies are at risk. The U.S. still imported 20% of its enriched uranium from Russia in 2024, a legacy of the now shattered hope for friendship between the two countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War.

The U.S. will completely ban the import Russian uranium by 2028 in repsonse to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leaving a gapping supply deficit just when Washington, the utilities and the tech sector are developing the most ambitious plans in decades to build new reactors.

Nuclear plants like Palisades in Michigan, Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania and Duane Arnold in Iowa are planning to restart operations this decade after closing years ago. The tech sector is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to bring advanced reactors online in the 2030s to help power their computer warehouses that train and run AI applications.

“It is a pivotal moment, the next five to 10 years for the nuclear industry,” Lorskulsint said. “We’re going to have to have to deliver on time, on schedule and continue to maintain that momentum, which is a significant challenge.”

Employees at Urenco USA receive a cylinder of feed material for enrichment process.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Expansion plans

In deeply divided Washington, support for nuclear power is one of the few issues that can still muster some bipartisan support. President Donald Trump wants to quadruple nuclear power by 2050, a significant increase over President Joe Biden’s previous goal to triple it by that date.

The U.S. has only built one new nuclear plant from scratch in the past 30 years, raising doubts about whether such ambitious plans can be realized. But any effort big or small to expand nuclear power in the U.S. will run through Urenco’s facility in New Mexico.

The plant currently has capacity to supply about a third of U.S. demand with $5 billion invested in the facility to date. Urenco is expanding its capacity in New Mexico by 15% through 2027 as utilties replace Russian fuel. It has installed two new centrifuge cascades for enrichment this year. But Urenco’s expansion alone won’t fill the Russian supply gap, Lorskulsint said.

“Our competitors will have to expand in order to make sure that as a whole the industry is still supplied,” he said. “We’re building quickly as we can to make sure that the the industry is not short handed.”

As Russian fuel is banned from the U.S., the Trump administration is pushing for 10 new large reactors to start construction this decade. Alphabet is investing in about 2 gigawatts of new nuclear, Amazon has committed to more than 5 gigawatts, and Meta wants to bring up to 4 gigawatts online.

Urenco USA Facilities in Eunice, New Mexico.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

The industry is worried about the supply gap, Lorskulsint said, but filling it “is not an insurmountable task.”

Urenco USA is a candidate to receive a contract from the Department of Energy to produce more low-enriched uranium, part of U.S. efforts to standup a domestic nuclear supply chain. The contract would allow the New Mexico facility to expand further with the construction of a fourth production building.

Urenco’s competitors are also seeking support from the Energy Department to build out U.S. enrichment capacity. France’s Orano is planning to build a facility in Oak Ridge, Tennesse, with operations potentially starting in the 2030s.

Publicly traded Centrus has a facility in Piketon, Ohio, where it plans to produce low-enriched uranium, but it hasn’t yet started commercial operations. Centrus is the successor company to the United States Enrichment Corporation that went bankrupt in 2013.

Centrus stock has gained more than 400% this year as investors bet on a growing demand for enriched uranium due to U.S. plans to expand nuclear power.

Paul Lorskulsint, Chief Nuclear Officer, Urenco USA talks about the uranium enrichment process next to centrifuge cascade.

Adam Jeffery | CNBC

Supply chain bottlenecks

But enrichment is just one stage in a long supply chain that will be stretched by growing demand. Uranium delivered to the U.S is often mined in Canada and it is then converted into intermediate state called uranium hexafluoride that is the feedstock for enrichment.

The feedstock is spun in Urenco’s centrifuges to increase the presence of the isotope Uranium-235 to 5%, the level needed for most nuclear plants. The enriched uranium is then shipped to fuel fabricators that manufacture the pellets that go into reactors in power plants.

U.S. nuclear plants are facing cumulative supply gap of 184 million pounds of uranium through 2034, according to the Energy Information Administration.The biggest bottleneck right now for Urenco is the conversion of uranium into the feedstock for enrichment, Lorskulsint said. There are only three facilities in the Western world located in Canada, France and Illinois that convert uranium into feedstock.

“Every portion of the supply chain is going to have to expand, it’s not just about enrichment,” Lorskulsint said. “We need more of everything but conversion right now is the bottleneck.”

The nuclear supply chain may not be the biggest challenge in the end, the executive said. The ageing U.S. electric grid could prove to be the real constraint on building new nuclear due how long it takes to complete upgrades, he said. While this could slow Urenco down, it won’t stop the expansion, he said.

“We came here when the market demanded it,” Lorskulsint said of Urenco’s investment in the U.S. “We were here when the market didn’t demand it. And we are now expanding to make sure that we can still support as much as the market needs from us.”



Source link

Tags: CenterExpandnuclearplansplantPowerU.SUranium
ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

Calls Lifted In $136K–$145K Range

Next Post

Activist Irenic builds a stake in Workiva, hoping to gain two board seats

Related Posts

edit post
A Blurry Future for Eye Tracking Stocks

A Blurry Future for Eye Tracking Stocks

by TheAdviserMagazine
October 4, 2025
0

Eye tracking stocks should be making hay while the sun shines. We’re seeing an emergence of new regulations in favor...

edit post
Case for investing abroad despite record U.S. market gains

Case for investing abroad despite record U.S. market gains

by TheAdviserMagazine
October 4, 2025
0

Investors may want to boost their exposure overseas."Home bias is about as bad as it's ever been in the United...

edit post
Activist Irenic builds a stake in Workiva, hoping to gain two board seats

Activist Irenic builds a stake in Workiva, hoping to gain two board seats

by TheAdviserMagazine
October 4, 2025
0

Company: Workiva (WK)Business: Workiva is a provider of cloud-based reporting solutions that are designed to solve financial and non-financial business...

edit post
Bitcoin rallies to within 1% of all-time high, gaining safe-haven status during shutdown

Bitcoin rallies to within 1% of all-time high, gaining safe-haven status during shutdown

by TheAdviserMagazine
October 4, 2025
0

Bitcoin rallied on Friday to within striking distance of its record high as the U.S. government's shutdown entered its third...

edit post
U.S., Europe brands take on the Chinese consumer

U.S., Europe brands take on the Chinese consumer

by TheAdviserMagazine
October 3, 2025
0

Pictured here is Louis Vuitton's new cruise ship-shaped store in Shanghai, China, on June 28, 2025.Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty...

edit post
Now This Common Supplement May Slow Aging, Too

Now This Common Supplement May Slow Aging, Too

by TheAdviserMagazine
October 3, 2025
0

puhhha / Shutterstock.comResearchers have identified a common supplement that can slow aging. It may even be in your medicine cabinet...

Next Post
edit post
Activist Irenic builds a stake in Workiva, hoping to gain two board seats

Activist Irenic builds a stake in Workiva, hoping to gain two board seats

edit post
What One Big Move Can Do to Lower Your Monthly Cost of Living

What One Big Move Can Do to Lower Your Monthly Cost of Living

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
edit post
What Happens If a Spouse Dies Without a Will in North Carolina?

What Happens If a Spouse Dies Without a Will in North Carolina?

September 14, 2025
edit post
California May Reimplement Mask Mandates

California May Reimplement Mask Mandates

September 5, 2025
edit post
Does a Will Need to Be Notarized in North Carolina?

Does a Will Need to Be Notarized in North Carolina?

September 8, 2025
edit post
DACA recipients no longer eligible for Marketplace health insurance and subsidies

DACA recipients no longer eligible for Marketplace health insurance and subsidies

September 11, 2025
edit post
‘Quiet luxury’ is coming for the housing market, The Corcoran Group CEO says. It’s not just the Hamptons, Aspen, and Miami anymore

‘Quiet luxury’ is coming for the housing market, The Corcoran Group CEO says. It’s not just the Hamptons, Aspen, and Miami anymore

September 9, 2025
edit post
Tips to Apply for Mental Health SSDI Without Therapy

Tips to Apply for Mental Health SSDI Without Therapy

September 19, 2025
edit post
During a White House meeting, Hakeem Jeffries spotted a ‘Trump 2028’ hat and asked JD Vance ‘Hey, bro, you got a problem with this?’

During a White House meeting, Hakeem Jeffries spotted a ‘Trump 2028’ hat and asked JD Vance ‘Hey, bro, you got a problem with this?’

0
edit post
Inside the uranium plant at the center of U.S. plans to expand nuclear power

Inside the uranium plant at the center of U.S. plans to expand nuclear power

0
edit post
Walmart’s bold move in logistics

Walmart’s bold move in logistics

0
edit post
Taiwan Declines US Demand To Offshore Chip Production

Taiwan Declines US Demand To Offshore Chip Production

0
edit post
Robert Kiyosaki Wants to Vomit as Buffett Words Signal Crash Ahead, Doubles Down on Bitcoin

Robert Kiyosaki Wants to Vomit as Buffett Words Signal Crash Ahead, Doubles Down on Bitcoin

0
edit post
When the Choir Dies Out: How Religious Life Changes After Loss of Spouse

When the Choir Dies Out: How Religious Life Changes After Loss of Spouse

0
edit post
Robert Kiyosaki Wants to Vomit as Buffett Words Signal Crash Ahead, Doubles Down on Bitcoin

Robert Kiyosaki Wants to Vomit as Buffett Words Signal Crash Ahead, Doubles Down on Bitcoin

October 4, 2025
edit post
During a White House meeting, Hakeem Jeffries spotted a ‘Trump 2028’ hat and asked JD Vance ‘Hey, bro, you got a problem with this?’

During a White House meeting, Hakeem Jeffries spotted a ‘Trump 2028’ hat and asked JD Vance ‘Hey, bro, you got a problem with this?’

October 4, 2025
edit post
Stablecoin Yield Means Banks Must Now offer Customers Real Interest

Stablecoin Yield Means Banks Must Now offer Customers Real Interest

October 4, 2025
edit post
Trump to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard ahead of expected deployment to Democratic state

Trump to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard ahead of expected deployment to Democratic state

October 4, 2025
edit post
Our Favorite Zucchini Bread Recipe

Our Favorite Zucchini Bread Recipe

October 4, 2025
edit post
Spot crypto ETFs outperform trusts and strategy funds (BTC-USD:Cryptocurrency)

Spot crypto ETFs outperform trusts and strategy funds (BTC-USD:Cryptocurrency)

October 4, 2025
The Adviser Magazine

The first and only national digital and print magazine that connects individuals, families, and businesses to Fee-Only financial advisers, accountants, attorneys and college guidance counselors.

CATEGORIES

  • 401k Plans
  • Business
  • College
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Economy
  • Estate Plans
  • Financial Planning
  • Investing
  • IRS & Taxes
  • Legal
  • Market Analysis
  • Markets
  • Medicare
  • Money
  • Personal Finance
  • Social Security
  • Startups
  • Stock Market
  • Trading

LATEST UPDATES

  • Robert Kiyosaki Wants to Vomit as Buffett Words Signal Crash Ahead, Doubles Down on Bitcoin
  • During a White House meeting, Hakeem Jeffries spotted a ‘Trump 2028’ hat and asked JD Vance ‘Hey, bro, you got a problem with this?’
  • Stablecoin Yield Means Banks Must Now offer Customers Real Interest
  • Our Great Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use, Legal Notices & Disclosures
  • Contact us
  • About Us

© Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved
See articles for original source and related links to external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Financial Planning
    • Financial Planning
    • Personal Finance
  • Market Research
    • Business
    • Investing
    • Money
    • Economy
    • Markets
    • Stocks
    • Trading
  • 401k Plans
  • College
  • IRS & Taxes
  • Estate Plans
  • Social Security
  • Medicare
  • Legal

© Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved
See articles for original source and related links to external sites.