Centrus Energy Corp. said late last week that it has finished its demonstration cascade of American Centrifuge machines at its plant in Piketon, Ohio, but plans to continue developing the technology at its facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, thanks to ongoing funding from the Department of Energy through its Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The DOE said late last year that it won’t fund any more demonstrations because the necessary data already has been gathered. Because of this, Centrus will need to demobilize its demonstration cascade and lay off an estimated 60 employees in Piketon as of Monday.
The company plans to maintain its operating and construction license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), allowing Centrus to have more options for the Piketon facility in the future.
“We believe that the United States must remain a global leader in uranium-enrichment technology, and the work of our team at Piketon has made enormous contributions to that effort,” Daniel Poneman, Centrus’ president and CEO, said. “This is a painful day for our employees, families, friends and colleagues, but all should be proud of the great work of our Piketon team. They have met every milestone in this project, which they completed on time and under budget. We will do all that we can to facilitate their transition to new opportunities. We deeply appreciate the unwavering, long-standing support from the community and Ohio’s elected officials for the great work that has been done at Piketon.”
