Oklo and Centrus Energy signed a letter of intent to guarantee the HALEU nuclear fuel supply for the deployment of up to five Aurora plants in southern Ohio. The agreement contemplates deliveries beginning in 2029 and reinforces one of the most critical aspects for the expansion of advanced nuclear energy in the United States: access to domestically sourced fuel.
The alliance will enable Centrus to supply high-assay low-enriched uranium from its American Centrifuge plant, located in Pike County, Ohio. This fuel will support the development of the 1.2 GW energy campus that Oklo plans to build in the region.
An Agreement to Strengthen the Nuclear Supply Chain
Access to HALEU continues to be one of the main challenges for the advanced nuclear industry. Therefore, the collaboration between both companies seeks to integrate fuel production, power generation, and future customer demand into a single strategy.
According to the announced terms, the letter of intent will serve as the basis for negotiating a definitive contract that will establish supply volumes and long-term commercial conditions.
Likewise, the agreement contemplates the possibility of Oklo making advance payments to support the expansion of production capacity necessary to supply the future Aurora reactors.
Ohio Positions Itself as a Hub for Advanced Nuclear Energy
The initiative brings together several strategic elements in the same region. On one hand, Centrus contributes its uranium enrichment capacity in Piketon. On the other, Oklo advances the development of its energy complex based on fast fission reactors.
This is complemented by the participation of Kiewit, one of the largest engineering and construction firms in North America, which will collaborate on engineering, procurement, and construction planning for the project’s initial deployments.
Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo, emphasized that the integration of fuel, power generation, and customer demand will accelerate the implementation of advanced nuclear infrastructure in a region with extensive experience in nuclear activities and a specialized workforce.
Private Investment and Job Creation
The project could mobilize billions of dollars in private investment over the coming years. Part of this momentum comes after the previously announced agreement between Oklo and Meta, which included financial support mechanisms aimed at backing the development of the Aurora energy campus.
According to released estimates, the construction of the advanced nuclear fuel supply chain and the energy complex will require more than 700 full-time construction workers over several years.
Additionally, each Aurora plant could generate between 40 and 50 permanent jobs related to operations, technical support, engineering, logistics, and maintenance. The complex’s growth will also require additional personnel to coordinate activities across the facility set.
In parallel, Centrus’s expansion in Ohio contemplates approximately 1,000 construction jobs and 300 new operational positions, strengthening the region’s industrial activity.
Aurora Aims for More Clean Generation in the U.S.
The Aurora plants developed by Oklo utilize fast fission technology with liquid metal cooling. The design is oriented toward providing reliable power generation with low water requirements and reduced operational emissions.
The company considers that this technology can play a relevant role in meeting the growing energy demand associated with industrial expansion, data centers, and other high-consumption electrical infrastructure.
For his part, Amir Vexler, President and CEO of Centrus, noted that the agreement represents progress in reinforcing a reliable source of HALEU for next-generation reactors and contributing to the reestablishment of large-scale uranium enrichment capacity within the United States.
Source and photo: Oklo
