Fermi America Partners with ASP Isotopes for HALEU Enrichment Facility in Texas.

Fermi America, a Texas-based private grid campus, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ASP Isotopes Inc. and Quantum Leap Energy LLC to develop a High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) enrichment facility. The planned facility will use advanced laser-based isotope separation technology to produce HALEU, strengthening energy security and reducing reliance on foreign sources. The facility will be one of the first of its kind in the US and will be located at Fermi America's site in Carson County, Texas.

Fermi America, a Texas-based private grid campus, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ASP Isotopes Inc. and its subsidiary Quantum Leap Energy LLC to develop a High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) enrichment facility. The planned facility will use advanced laser-based isotope separation technology to produce HALEU, a specialized nuclear fuel essential for many Generation IV and small modular reactor (SMR) designs. This collaboration aims to strengthen U.S. and allied supply chains, reduce reliance on Russian enrichment, and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies [1].

The HALEU enrichment facility will be one of the first of its kind in the U.S. and will be located at Fermi America's site in Carson County, Texas. The project is part of Fermi America's broader initiative to develop next-generation electric grids that deliver highly redundant power at gigawatt scale, essential for enabling next-generation artificial intelligence. The private grid campus will be anchored by four AP1000® nuclear units using conventional fuel, with the potential to integrate advanced reactor technologies in future phases [1].

The addition of domestic HALEU production capability will position the private grid as both a significant clean energy generator and a strategic nuclear fuel hub. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. HALEU demand could exceed 50 metric tons annually by 2035, with similar needs emerging in Europe and Asia. The proposed project would help meet this demand, supporting the clean energy transition while enhancing energy security [2].

Fermi America's Co-Founder and CEO, Toby Neugebauer, stated, "Our nation's ability to lead in advanced nuclear energy is directly tied to our capacity to fuel it here at home. This decision helps ensure that America's next generation of nuclear reactors will be powered by American innovation, technology, and resolve." Mesut Uzman, Chief Nuclear Construction Officer at Fermi America, added, "This collaboration represents a decisive step toward securing the nuclear fuel needed for the next wave of advanced reactors. It reinforces our mission to build the most advanced, resilient, and secure private grid in the world" [1].

Paul Mann, Chairman and CEO of ASP Isotopes Inc., noted, "Advanced reactors cannot be built without HALEU, and our Quantum Enrichment™ technology is designed to deliver it with speed, precision, and environmental responsibility. Partnering with Fermi America gives us the platform and location to play a central role in the emerging Western HALEU market." Rick Perry, Co-Founder of Fermi America and former U.S. Secretary of Energy, emphasized, "Energy security is national security. This project will help America control its own destiny in nuclear power, create jobs here in Texas, and send a clear message that the United States intends to lead – not follow – in the race for advanced, carbon-free energy" [1].

References:
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fermi-america-and-asp-isotopes-join-forces-to-secure-americas-advanced-reactor-fuel-supply-302531168.html
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fermi-america-asp-isotopes-join-154600540.html