The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has created a new consortium under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to shore up the domestic nuclear fuel cycle supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign uranium.
The DPA Consortium, announced Aug. 22, is designed to strengthen national security and ensure a steady supply of fuel for the country’s nuclear reactors.
The initiative follows President Donald Trump’s May executive order, “Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base,” which directed federal agencies to cut regulatory hurdles and rebuild U.S. nuclear capabilities. Officials say a more resilient fuel supply chain is central both to energy security and to meeting clean energy targets that depend on nuclear power’s carbon-free generation.
The DOE has already launched initiatives to expand the availability of low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for reactors, but those efforts are focused on specific fuel types. The new consortium spans the entire nuclear fuel cycle from mining to reprocessing, creating a broader, coordinated platform for industry collaboration.
The consortium will provide a platform for companies across the nuclear fuel cycle—including mining, enrichment, fabrication and recycling—to participate in voluntary agreements and consultations with the DOE. Officials say the effort is intended to improve coordination, address potential bottlenecks and support the development of a more resilient domestic fuel supply chain.
The Energy Department issued an interim rule that sets the process for voluntary agreements under the Defense Production Act, allowing companies to coordinate without violating antitrust laws. The rule takes effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register, with the public given the same period to submit comments.
U.S. companies involved in the nuclear fuel cycle can apply to join the consortium by emailing the DOE. Requests to join must include the company’s information and interest in the partnership. Membership is free, but the Office of Nuclear Energy must give final approval.
The DOE expects to confirm members and set long-term goals in the coming weeks. The consortium’s first meeting is scheduled for Oct. 14, where officials and industry leaders are expected to outline priorities for rebuilding the nation’s nuclear fuel infrastructure.
Photo by Trougnouf, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
