TerraPower has secured a crucial 10-year agreement with South Africa’s ASP Isotopes Inc., ensuring a steady supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for its forthcoming Natrium nuclear power plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming.
This exclusive agreement marks a milestone for TerraPower’s advanced reactor, projected to be operational by 2030, and aligns with the anticipated start of HALEU production in the US by 2027.
The Natrium plant, a state-of-the-art 500-megawatt nuclear reactor, will leverage HALEU—a form of uranium enriched up to 20%—to boost efficiency and reliability. The reactor’s design makes it highly adaptable to energy grids, providing a stable source of clean energy that can supplement renewable sources like solar and wind, which are often intermittent.
In response to supply chain disruptions and geopolitical challenges, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, TerraPower pivoted from initially sourcing HALEU from Russia to securing a US-based supply. Under the new partnership, ASP Isotopes and its American subsidiary, Quantum Leap Energy, will build a HALEU production facility in the US, with TerraPower’s support.
As the US faces growing energy demands and grid challenges, Wyoming’s Natrium project positions the state as a leader in nuclear energy innovation. With its stable output, the Natrium reactor is expected to help address grid stability issues while advancing energy independence and sustainability goals.
Shortgo contributed to this report.
