Centrus Energy stock jumps on DoE contract extension

Investing.com -- Centrus Energy (NYSE:LEU) shares rose 3.6% in premarket trading on Friday after the company announced a significant contract extension with the U.S. Department of Energy. The extension allows Centrus to continue producing High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) through June 30, 2026, with options for further renewal for up to eight years.

The DOE first partnered with Centrus in 2019 to reestablish domestic uranium enrichment capabilities and support the development of HALEU. Since then, Centrus has led efforts to demonstrate and scale production of the advanced fuel needed for next-generation nuclear reactors.

The most recent development activates the first short-term extension within Phase III of a competitively awarded contract, allowing the company to expand production of HALEU at its American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio. Under this phase, Centrus will deliver 900 kilograms of HALEU UF6 to the Department over the next year, with potential for additional multi-year extensions.

"This extension reflects the ongoing value of the partnership that the Department launched with Centrus in 2019 to restore America’s ability to enrich uranium and provide a source of HALEU that the Department and the nation urgently need," said Amir Vexler, President and CEO of Centrus Energy. "We are delivering meaningful quantities of HALEU to catalyze a new generation of reactors, while laying the groundwork to establish a large-scale, U.S.-owned uranium enrichment capability to meet America’s commercial and national security requirements."

Centrus had previously completed Phase I of the contract in late 2023, successfully initiating enrichment operations and delivering the first 20 kilograms of HALEU. The fuel under the agreement is owned by the DOE and intended for use in federally supported reactor demonstration programs and other national security initiatives.

While the initial contract terms focused on technology readiness and early-stage delivery, the move into Phase III underscores the shift toward larger-scale production. HALEU, which is enriched to levels between 5% and 20%, is essential for many advanced reactor designs, prompting concern from policymakers over securing a dependable domestic supply.

The market has responded positively to the news, viewing the contract extension as evidence of Centrus’ strategic importance in national energy policy. Investors are likely to monitor developments closely as further extension options remain under the DOE’s discretion and will depend on future appropriations.

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