WASHINGTON, D.C. - In its latest push to promote nuclear energy, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $80 million in funding to advance the production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). Touted as a crucial component for next-generation reactors, HALEU is enriched to between 10% and 20% uranium-235—uncomfortably close to the 20% threshold where uranium becomes classified as highly enriched uranium (HEU) and usable in nuclear weapons. While the administration claims this investment bolsters energy security, critics warn it could create a proliferation nightmare.
Centrus Energy: The Sole Gatekeeper
At the heart of this effort lies Centrus Energy, the only company in the United States currently licensed to produce HALEU. Centrus, located in Piketon, Ohio, plays a critical role in the Biden administration's plan to develop a domestic HALEU supply chain. However, this monopoly raises concerns about oversight, transparency, and the broader implications of entrusting such sensitive material to a single private entity.
The push to commercialize HALEU is part of the administration’s “Investing in America” agenda. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Michael Goff emphasized HALEU’s potential to fuel advanced reactors, claiming it would enable smaller designs, longer operational cycles, and increased efficiency. But these promises come with steep risks, including threats to international security and environmental safety.
Proliferation Risks and Transportation Woes
Critics argue that widespread adoption of HALEU blurs the line between civilian and military nuclear programs. HALEU’s enrichment levels make it dangerously close to weapons-grade material, with some experts warning that it could be directly used to manufacture nuclear weapons. A recent report by leading nonproliferation experts stated, "Promoting HALEU without rigorous restrictions risks enabling countries to produce weapons-usable material under the guise of peaceful programs." Such a shift could erode decades of international safeguards and encourage nuclear proliferation among nations and rogue actors.
Compounding the problem is the challenge of transporting HALEU safely. Unlike conventional uranium enriched to less than 5%, HALEU requires specially certified containers due to its higher enrichment level. Currently, only a handful of transportation packages are approved for HALEU, and most are designed for small quantities. This limitation drastically increases costs and logistical hurdles, while also raising concerns about potential accidents or theft during transit.
The DOE has allocated an additional $16 million over three years to address these transportation challenges. However, developing new containers or modifying existing ones will take years, leaving significant gaps in safety and security in the interim.
HALEU: A Trojan Horse for Nuclear Expansion
The rush to deploy HALEU-fueled advanced reactors is also being framed as a solution for reducing carbon emissions. Yet critics argue that this is a dangerous distraction from safer, renewable energy alternatives. While renewable energy sources like wind and solar continue to fall in cost and grow in scalability, nuclear advocates are doubling down on risky technologies with unproven economic and safety benefits.
The Pandora’s Box of Nuclear Proliferation
Allowing HALEU to become a standard reactor fuel without stringent international oversight risks dismantling long-standing barriers between peaceful and military nuclear programs. Countries with access to HALEU would need only days to ramp up enrichment to weapons-grade levels, leaving the global community little warning or recourse. This shift undermines decades of progress in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and opens the door for misuse under the guise of civilian energy programs.
A Political Legacy and Its Continuation
As President Biden prepares to leave office, this aggressive push for HALEU and advanced nuclear technologies is set to continue under a new administration. Former President Donald Trump, poised to regain the presidency, has historically championed the nuclear industry and is likely to accelerate these initiatives further. Trump's administration previously sought to boost domestic uranium production and expand nuclear energy, and his return to office signals an unwavering commitment to these controversial goals.
Critics warn that this bipartisan drive toward advanced nuclear fuels such as HALEU risks entrenching a hazardous legacy of proliferation threats and environmental risks. The transition of power underscores that, regardless of administration, the nuclear industry’s influence over U.S. energy policy remains a powerful and persistent force—one that continues to prioritize corporate interests and speculative technologies over public safety and sustainable alternatives.
Add comment
Comments