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The American Centrifuge

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Construction Activities at the American Centrifuge Plant

On August 4, 2009, DOE and USEC announced an agreement to delay a final review of USEC’s loan guarantee application for the ACP until at least early 2010. As a result, USEC demobilized the American Centrifuge project in order to preserve liquidity. USEC continues to believe in the American Centrifuge technology and is working to address DOE’s financial and technical concerns so that USEC will be in a position to update its application.

Construction progress to this point has included:


Boiler Building

Concrete for the boiler building began being poured in March 2008

In March 2008, the first of three concrete pours occurred for the foundation of the new Boiler Building at the plant.

Steel structure for the boiler building being erected in May 2008

This building is one of the new buildings to be constructed on site at Piketon to support the American Centrifuge Plant. The building will house three RHW (Recirculating Heating Water) boilers to provide heating water for process needs and for building heat to centrifuge plant facilities.

Structural steel is being erected in the American Centrifuge Plant's Boiler Building to support Recirculating Heating Water Piping to and from the boilers.

Structural steel is being erected in the American Centrifuge Plant's Boiler Building to support Recirculating Heating Water Piping to and from the boilers.

Recirculating Heating Water Piping is being installed adjacent to the American Centrifuge Plant's Boiler Building.

Recirculating Heating Water Piping is being installed adjacent to the American Centrifuge Plant's Boiler Building. This piping will transport heating water, used for process and building heating, to and from the Boiler Building and the Centrifuge Plant.

An aerial view of the construction of the American Centrifuge Plant's Boiler Building in July 2008.

An aerial view of the construction of the American Centrifuge Plant's Boiler Building in July 2008.

The American Centrifuge Plant's Boiler Building in October 2008.

The American Centrifuge Plant's Boiler Building in October 2008.


Feed and Withdrawal Facility

Refurbishment of the Feed and Withdrawal Facility

As part of the plant construction, the Feed and Withdrawal Facility is being completely refurbished to accommodate the systems and processes required to safely and efficiently support the plant operation.

Refurbishment of the Feed and Withdrawal Facility

New process designs are being incorporated into the existing facility to meet performance based requirements that did not exist when the facility was originally designed and constructed.