TerraPower, a leading developer of advanced nuclear energy, has signed a term sheet with ASP Isotopes Inc. to increase global production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). This agreement marks the initial phase of a larger partnership: TerraPower will invest in building a HALEU enrichment facility in South Africa and plans to purchase HALEU from this site. The move is part of TerraPower’s strategy to secure fuel for its Natrium reactor and energy storage system under development in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
“TerraPower has been working diligently to ensure a stable, secure HALEU supply chain for our Natrium reactors,” said Chris Levesque, TerraPower President and CEO. “This agreement is another example of our commitment and investments to commercialize HALEU production domestically and in allied countries. We are optimistic about ASP Isotopes’ enrichment capabilities and planned timeline to help ensure advanced nuclear energy can achieve its necessary role in meeting climate energy targets.”
TerraPower has made various strategic agreements and investments to boost domestic HALEU production in the United States and strengthen the nuclear fuel cycle. These include partnerships with Centrus for HALEU commercialization, Framatome for developing a HALEU metallization plant, and Uranium Energy Corporation to explore Wyoming uranium as a fuel source for Natrium reactors. Enriched fuel for the Natrium reactor will be produced at the Natrium Fuel Facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, under development at Global Nuclear Fuel–Americas through significant investments from TerraPower and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). TerraPower also remains an active member of DOE’s HALEU Consortium.
The first Natrium plant is being constructed in Wyoming near a retiring coal facility, making it the world’s first coal-to-nuclear project. Construction began this summer, marking the first advanced reactor project to transition from design to construction. Developed in partnership with the DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, the Natrium technology includes a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor and a molten salt-based energy storage system. This storage technology can increase the system’s output to 500 MWe for over five and a half hours, allowing seamless integration with renewable energy sources and supporting grid decarbonization with reliable, carbon-free power.
