BWX Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to advance the Domestic Uranium Enrichment Centrifuge Experiment, or DUECE, which aims to restore a reliable domestic supply of enriched uranium for U.S. defense missions.
ORNL said Thursday that it serves as the design authority of the DEUCE technology, while BWXT will provide classified manufacturing and operational capabilities to the project.
The MOU builds on the $1.5 billion contract the National Nuclear Security Administration awarded to BWXT in 2025 to establish a domestic uranium enrichment capability by constructing a DUECE pilot plant.
“This MOU solidifies our shared commitment to the DOE's vital defense priorities by combining ORNL's innovative centrifuge designs with BWXT's proven industrial expertise,” Stephen Streiffer, laboratory director at ORNL, stated. “Together, we're restoring a capability the U.S. hasn't had since 2013 to enable a secure supply of enriched uranium for the nation's defense.”
The partnership will enable the deployment of DUECE technology at a larger scale, according to ORNL.
What Is BWXT’s Centrifuge Manufacturing Development Facility?
BWXT recently opened the Centrifuge Manufacturing Development Facility, or CMDF, to support domestic uranium enrichment capabilities. The facility serves as BWXT’s primary hub for the design, engineering, fabrication and testing of advanced gas centrifuge machines used in uranium enrichment.
BWXT said the centrifuge built in CMDF will support the DUECE pilot plant.
How Will the DEUCE Project Support Defense Missions?
The DEUCE project is expected to produce low-enriched uranium for tritium production and eventually highly enriched uranium used in naval nuclear propulsion systems. According to NNSA, the initiative will also help establish critical supply chains and ensure uranium enrichment capabilities are ready to support long-term defense mission needs.
