The largest economic investment in Tennessee’s history is planned for Oak Ridge
The uranium enrichment center will be a multi-structure commercial production site covering approximately 750,000 square feet.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, the Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, and Orano USA officials announced this week that the company has selected Oak Ridge as the preferred site to construct a new, multi-billion-dollar, state-of-the-art centrifuge uranium enrichment facility. Once funding is secured, it will be the single largest investment in Tennessee’s history.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of Orano USA, Jean-Luc Palayer shared a statement in a press release about the exciting news.
“The warm welcome, responsive engagement, and established nuclear energy community in Oak Ridge, as well as access to continuous and stable power, have been key factors for this site selection. We’re already preparing for our next required steps, including securing available Federal support and customer commitments, obtaining an NRC license, and Orano’s Board approval, but today we celebrate this major milestone towards bringing a new enrichment facility online to help meet our country’s need for an increased, secure domestic nuclear fuel supply,” Palayer said.
The uranium enrichment center will be a multi-structure commercial production site covering approximately 750,000 square feet, making it one of the largest sites of its kind in North America. Facility operations will create more than 300 new direct jobs in Roane County.
“Since the days of the Manhattan Project, Oak Ridge has played a vital role in advancing nuclear innovation and supporting the nuclear industry in the U.S. and the world. As we welcome Orano to Oak Ridge, we understand our new role in contributing toward a carbon-free, energy future. This goal cannot be accomplished without uranium enrichment, and Orano has proven itself to be a world leader in the industry. Orano will help us build out the supply chain for additional industries while creating good-paying jobs for Oak Ridgers,” said Oak Ridge Mayor Warren L. Gooch.
The company’s U.S. headquarters are in Bethesda, Maryland, and its global headquarters are in Paris, France. Orano is a leading technology and services provider for the commercial and federal nuclear industries. The company specializes in uranium mining, conversion, and enrichment. It also capitalizes on opportunities in nuclear fuel management and recycling, decommissioning shutdown nuclear energy facilities, federal site clean-up and closure, and developing nuclear medicines to fight cancer.
“Oak Ridge is home to some of the brightest scientists in the world, and it is only fitting that our community is the future home to one of the only nuclear fuel enrichment facilities in the U.S. Our city and state have become a household name in the nuclear energy industry, and I look forward to seeing continued success for many years to come. We are grateful for this significant project in our city,” said Representative John Ragan (R) from Oak Ridge.
Orano will be the second company to locate in Tennessee through the appeal of the Nuclear Energy Fund, which assists nuclear energy-related businesses choosing to relocate or grow in the Volunteer State and supports the state’s universities and research institutions in further developing their nuclear education programs.
“Our administration created the Nuclear Energy Fund in partnership with the Tennessee General Assembly to support and expand the state’s nuclear ecosystem, and in the last six months, we’ve announced four projects that will further strengthen Tennessee’s position as a leader in safe, clean and reliable energy for the future. Tennessee is the number one state for nuclear energy companies to invest and thrive, and we are proud to partner with Orano to lead America’s energy independence and drive continued economic growth and greater opportunity for Tennesseans,” Governor Lee said.
The $50 million fund was in Governor Lee’s recommended 2023-2024 budget and approved by the Tennessee General Assembly. An additional $10 million was allocated and approved in the state’s budget during the 2024 legislative session. The Orano project was vetted and recommended by the Education and Workforce subgroup, part of the 22-member Tennessee Nuclear Energy Advisory Council.
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