DOE selects five companies to develop HALEU transportation packages
Summary
The Department of Energy is issuing $11 million in awards to five companies to develop and license new transportation packages for high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU).According to a Monday press release, DOEs $11 million in awards will assist industry-led efforts to design, modify and license transportation through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).The five companies DOE selected are:Under DOEs category Topic Area 1, all five companies are selected to develop long-term economic solutions for the transport of HALEU and develop a new package design that can be licensed by NRC.NAC International will both create a new design package and modify an existing one for NRC certification. Modifying an existing package design is categorized as Topic Area 2, according to the release.NAC International is the sole company chosen under Topic Area 2.DOE said projects under Topic Area 1 will have performance periods of up to three years. Topic Area 2 will have a performance period of up to two years.These selections advance the commitment to rebuild the United Statess nuclear fuel cycle, strengthen domestic enrichment and accelerate deployment of advanced reactors, DOE said.Funding is provided through DOEs HALEU Availability Program, established under the Energy Act of 2020. The program was created to ensure access to HALEU for civilian domestic research, development, demonstration and commercial use.