Westinghouse Invests $1 Billion in South Carolina LEU+ Fuel Plant

Westinghouse is building a purpose-designed LEU+ fuel manufacturing facility at its Columbia site in Hopkins, South Carolina, with operations expected to begin in 2030. The approximately $1 billion investment marks the company's largest single manufacturing investment in decades and will create the first fleet-scale nuclear fuel factory built in the United States in more than five decades. Construction on the new LEU+ fuel factory is already underway at the existing Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility, a plant built in 1969 that is among the largest of its kind in the world and currently employs more than 1,200 people.

The new facility will manufacture Low Enriched Uranium Plus (LEU+), a next-generation fuel. LEU+ increases uranium enrichment to between 5% and 8%, compared to traditional fuels. This higher concentration offers flexibility to extend operating cycles and helps lower costs. It also provides the thermal margin needed to expand power generation from existing reactors without constructing new vessels. The first successful deployment of this fuel in a commercial U.S. reactor occurred last year.

Economic Impact and Job Creation

The $1 billion investment is projected to generate $4.9 billion in economic benefits across South Carolina over the next decade. Approximately $3.8 billion of that impact is expected in Richland County alone, stemming from construction, new equipment, and job creation.

The project will create approximately 100 new high-paying jobs. Salaries for these positions are expected to range from the upper five figures to the lower six figures, which is about 64% higher than the state's average annual wage of approximately $59,000. An economic impact study detailing these figures was commissioned by Westinghouse in partnership with researchers at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. Once operational, the facility is expected to provide significant property tax revenue, with an estimated 70% to 75% going to Richland School District One.

Supply Chain and Energy Security Advancement

This project directly supports the U.S. Department of Energy’s UPRISE initiative, which aims to add 2.5 gigawatts of nuclear capacity to the nation's grid. The program targets a total increase of 5 gigawatts by 2029. By establishing domestic production capacity for LEU+, the investment fortifies the U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain. It builds on broader federal efforts to restore American uranium enrichment capabilities, expanding the manufacturing capacity to turn enriched uranium into finished fuel assemblies.

The National Association of Manufacturers stated the project will meet growing energy demand and support good-paying manufacturing jobs, calling it a big change for the U.S. energy landscape and security. The investment also supports the industrialization of Westinghouse's AP1000® reactors worldwide.

Industry Leadership and Innovation

Leveraging 90 years of nuclear industry expertise, Westinghouse's new facility will be purpose-designed for higher-enrichment fuel production. It will use an innovative 'dry' process similar to one employed at a UK facility and will feature modern standards with higher automation and advanced technologies while maintaining high safety levels. The Columbia site already produces fuel pellets, rods, assemblies, and components for Westinghouse plants and global customers.

The expansion reinforces the company's commitment to environmental stewardship through responsible site development. It also provides career opportunities for students, including those from South Carolina State University-the only historically Black college or university in the country offering a nuclear engineering program-allowing them to pursue local careers in the field. The facility will begin operations in 2030, supporting the UPRISE program's goal of adding 2.5 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2029.