A French company specializing in nuclear power and renewable energy has announced plans to construct a multibillion-dollar centrifuge uranium enrichment facility in eastern Tennessee, as revealed by Governor Bill Lee. The facility, to be built in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, will span 750,000 square feet and is a project by Orano USA.
Governor Lee expressed his pride in the partnership with Orano and highlighted Tennessee as the prime state for nuclear energy investments, expecting the project to boost economic growth and create opportunities for residents. While the precise investment by Orano USA was not disclosed, the initiative is anticipated to generate 300 jobs.
Orano USA’s CEO and president, Jean-Luc Palayer, outlined the forthcoming steps of securing federal support, customer commitments, and obtaining a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Palayer lauded the progress towards establishing a new enrichment facility to address the country’s demand for a secure domestic nuclear fuel supply.
Local contributions towards the project include $5 million each from the city of Oak Ridge, Roane County, and the state’s nuclear fund to aid in covering utility preparation costs for the site. This development in Tennessee follows President Joe Biden’s approval of legislation in May aimed at discontinuing the import of enriched uranium from Russia and allocating about $2.7 billion to enhance the domestic uranium fuel industry.
Approximately 12% of the uranium used in U.S. nuclear power plants for generating electricity is imported from Russia, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Senate Speaker Randy McNally, a Republican from Oak Ridge and the state’s lieutenant governor, emphasized the importance of energy independence and viewed the growth of nuclear power as key to achieving this independence.