Westinghouse has established a “centre of excellence” for the manufacturing of low-enriched uranium plus (LEU+) fuel at its Columbia fuel fabrication facility (CFFF) in South Carolina.
The centre will help to meet an expected increase in demand for LEU+ fuel, particularly in the 5-10% enrichment range. The fuel increases power generation which reduces the number of outages needed at nuclear plants, the US-based nuclear company said.
Establishing the centre involves a significant expansion and upgrading of the CFFF, including the implementation of advanced manufacturing processes, equipment upgrades, and heightened safety measures.