Construction approved for upgrades to DOE’s uranium processing facility

Construction will start soon on additions to the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s (DOE/NNSA) Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Specifically, the department approved plans to construct a Main Process Building (MPB), a Salvage & Accountability Building (SAB), and Process Support Facilities (PSF).

These updates will create a more modern, efficient, and safer facility for conducting highly-enriched uranium operations at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

“The DOE strives to excel in project management. This is a great example of our efforts to keep projects on schedule and to be good stewards of taxpayer resources,” Energy Secretary Rick Perry said.

Dan Brouillette, deputy secretary of energy at the DOE, will oversee the project.

“This milestone is another important step toward delivering UPF and strengthening our Nation’s nuclear security,” Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, DOE undersecretary for nuclear security and NNSA administrator, said. “I’m proud of the UPF team for keeping an acquisition project of this size and scope on budget and on schedule.”

The MPB, a three-story 240,000 square foot building, will house enriched uranium operations. The other two buildings will support operations in the MPB.

The upgrades will cost no more than $6.5 billion and is targeted for completion by the end of 2025.