U.S. Uranium Conversion Plant Expands to Meet Nuclear Capacity Goals

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The Metropolis Works plant, the only uranium conversion facility of its kind in the United States, is expanding production to meet a surge in demand for nuclear fuel. Solstice, the company that took over the site, is heavily investing in the facility to increase its capacity and meet a new goal to quadruple American nuclear energy by 2050.

Why it matters

The expansion of the Metropolis Works plant is crucial to supporting the growth of nuclear energy in the U.S., which is seen as a key component in the country's efforts to reduce carbon emissions and meet its climate goals. The increased production of uranium hexafluoride, a critical step in the nuclear fuel supply chain, will help ensure a stable and reliable supply of fuel for the country's nuclear power plants.

The details

The Metropolis Works plant, located in southern Illinois, specializes in converting 'yellowcake' from uranium mines into uranium hexafluoride (UF6), a necessary step before the material can be used to power nuclear reactors. After a period of reduced production due to a global oversupply of nuclear fuel, the plant is now ramping up its operations to meet a surge in demand. Solstice, the company that took over the facility, is investing heavily to 'de-bottleneck' the current setup and expand the plant's overall capacity to handle a backlog of $2 billion in orders, mostly from domestic utility companies.

• In 2017, the Metropolis Works plant stopped production due to an oversupply of nuclear fuel on the global market.
• Solstice took over the Metropolis Works facility after spinning off from Honeywell last year.

What they’re saying

What’s next

With a license that runs all the way to 2060, the Metropolis plant is settling in for a long run as it continues to expand its capacity to meet the growing demand for nuclear fuel.