OKLO combining forces with LEU in Ohio

Oklo Inc. and Centrus Energy Corp. are partnered to build a localized, integrated nuclear fuel cycle hub in Piketon, Ohio. Their collaboration aims to establish a centralized "one-stop shop" for advanced nuclear fuel services by combining uranium enrichment and deconversion services at a single geographic location. This approach bypasses a major domestic supply chain bottleneck for the next generation of American nuclear energy.The partnership operates across several core components and strategic initiatives:Co-Located Fuel and Power HubThe Location: The operations are centered at the Centrus Piketon Site in Pike County, Ohio. This location is home to the American Centrifuge Plant—the only U.S. facility currently licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to produce High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU).The Joint Venture: The companies finalized a joint venture to build a new commercial deconversion facility directly adjacent to Centrus's existing enrichment lines.The Power Campus: The facility will sit next to Oklo’s planned 1.2-gigawatt advanced power campus. Notably, this power campus is backed by a landmark agreement with Meta Platforms to fund development and anchor long-term electricity demands for future data centers.Solving the Fuel Deconversion BottleneckWhat is Deconversion?: Once uranium is enriched into a gas form (uranium hexafluoride), it must be "deconverted" into a chemical form like uranium metal or oxide before being fabricated into usable fuel rods.Industry Efficiency: Advanced reactor technologies use diverse reactor designs, meaning companies traditionally have to build separate deconversion lines for each individual fuel fabrication plant. By centralizing deconversion next to enrichment in Ohio, Oklo and Centrus eliminate the need for redundant facilities across the U.S., simplifying logistics and drastically reducing the cost and hazards of shipping HALEU between states.Shared Energy Off-Take AgreementCircular Power Synergy: The agreement goes beyond fuel production. Under their expanded Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Centrus intends to purchase clean, always-on energy generated by Oklo’s upcoming Aurora Powerhouse microreactors to run its highly energy-intensive HALEU enrichment cascades.Fuel Procurement: In return, Oklo secures a stable, domestic pipeline of HALEU fuel from Centrus to power its expanding commercial reactor fleet.

 -Tom