Centrus Energy Inks Multi-Year Deal to Fuel Radiant’s Portable Microreactor

Centrus Energy Inks Multi-Year Deal to Fuel Radiant’s Portable Microreactor

The advanced nuclear sector in the United States has taken another step toward commercial viability. US enrichment company Centrus Energy and California-based microreactor developer Radiant have finalized a definitive multi-year contract to supply nuclear fuel, solidifying a critical link in the supply chain for next-generation portable power.

The agreement, formally a long-term supply arrangement rather than a preliminary memorandum of understanding, will see Centrus provide high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to support Radiant’s microreactor program. The move directly addresses one of the most significant bottlenecks facing the advanced reactor industry: the availability of specialized fuel.

Closing the HALEU Supply Gap

HALEU is a crucial component for many modern small modular reactors and microreactors, which are designed to be more flexible and efficient than traditional large-scale nuclear plants. Historically, the lack of a domestic commercial HALEU supply chain has been a primary obstacle delaying deployment. This contract signals that private-sector solutions are beginning to bridge that gap, supplementing government initiatives to establish a robust US-based enrichment capacity.

While the specific financial terms and exact delivery timelines of the deal remain confidential, the binding nature of the contract indicates a maturing market. It moves beyond research-phase agreements and into the practical steps required for prototype testing and eventual commercial deployment.

Radiant’s Portable Power Vision

Radiant is developing portable nuclear microreactors intended to replace diesel generators in remote locations, military installations, and critical infrastructure. These systems promise carbon-free, reliable power that does not rely on frequent fuel deliveries. Securing a fuel supply from Centrus is a foundational step in transforming the company’s engineering designs into operational hardware.

For Centrus Energy, the contract represents a significant commercial milestone. The company has been at the forefront of efforts to restart domestic uranium enrichment under its Piketon, Ohio demonstration project. This deal demonstrates a tangible path from initial production runs to recurring commercial delivery contracts with reactor developers.

Bolstering US Energy Independence

The partnership fits squarely within a broader national strategy to reduce reliance on foreign sources for advanced nuclear fuel, particularly from Russia. With global supply chains disrupted, US policymakers have stressed the urgency of building out a complete domestic fuel cycle—from enrichment to reactor operation. Deals like the Centrus-Radiant agreement turn that policy ambition into market reality.

The advanced nuclear industry is watching closely as these supply chains form. As the first microreactor developers edge closer to regulatory licensing and demonstration projects, the companies that lock in fuel supply early may establish a significant competitive advantage in the race to deploy the next fleet of US nuclear reactors.