DoE awards next-gen nuclear fuel contracts backwards

The US Department of Energy has awarded shares of an $800 million contract for advanced nuclear fuel deconversion to four companies, but it's unclear who will be in charge of getting refined fuel to those deconversion sites. High-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU, is needed for nuclear reactor designs like small modular …

[Jon 37]

The enrichment step shouldn't be that different from the enrichment that's already happening. Just run it through the centrifuges more times.

[Anonymous Coward]

Well HALEU...

We know who *does* have a nice stockpile of medium enriched uranium - if it isn't subjected to Rapid Unscheduled Deconversion courtesy of some very aggrieved neighbours.

[MyffyW]

Re: Well HALEU...

Knowing said neighbours, I doubt it will be unscheduled. I'm sure they have a very precise schedule. It just isn't shared with the recipients.

[MyffyW]

Help me out here...

Why do these new-fangled reactors need Uranium? What's wrong with our all that Pu we have lying around?

Asking for a friend in West Cumbria.

[Anonymous Coward]

DoE, not DofE

I realised the DoE has nothing to do with the Duke of Edinburgh and his award.

Not saying how long it took...