ASP Isotopes to provide HALEU to TerraPower

TerraPower and ASP Isotopes signed a term sheet for the construction of a uranium enrichment facility in South Africa. The facility is expected to provide HALEU for TerraPower's Natrium reactor.

The announcement does not mention specific dates for the construction of the plant. Given that ASP Isotopes has no experience in producing HALEU in the quantities required for the Natrium reactor operations, the process could take considerable time. Natrium would require about 15-20 tonnes of HALEU for the startup core and 3.6 tonnes of HALEU annually (see Edwin Lyman's report, p. 67). It should also be noted that South Africa has no 123 nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States.

In July 2023, TerraPower signed an MOU with US-based Centrus to secure supply of HALEU.