Enriched Uranium
Uranium processed to increase the concentration of the fissile isotope U-235 above natural levels, the form required to fuel most commercial nuclear reactors; global enrichment capacity remains concentrated among a small number of countries, including Russia.
Covered in 3 MetalsCost.com News Intelligence articles, most recently on September 28, 2026.
Overview
Natural uranium is only about 0.7% the fissile isotope U-235, too dilute to sustain a reaction in most reactor designs, so it's enriched by concentrating that isotope using cascades of high-speed gas centrifuges. How far it's enriched determines what it can be used for: low-enriched uranium (LEU), capped at 20% U-235, covers everything from standard 3-5% reactor fuel up through the newer high-assay category; anything at or above 20% is classified as highly enriched uranium (HEU).
Enrichment Levels
The dividing lines matter because they map directly to proliferation risk and end use. Ordinary light-water power reactors run on LEU enriched to roughly 3-5% U-235. High-assay LEU (HALEU), enriched between 5% and just under 20%, is a newer category built for advanced reactor designs. Above 20% U-235, uranium becomes HEU, with naval propulsion reactors typically using 93-97% enrichment and weapons-grade material generally defined as 90% or higher.
Sources
- Enrichment level classifications (LEU/HEU/weapons-grade) — Uranium Enrichment (2025)
Coverage
Taiwan Clears the First Step to Restart Its Maanshan Nuclear Plant, Reversing a Phase-Out
Taiwan's nuclear regulator has cleared an initial plan to restart the Maanshan nuclear plant, which shut in May 2025. The move reverses a decade-old phase-out and adds another name to the list of countries bringing reactors back.
US Sanctions Bill Threatens India With 100% Tariffs Over Russian Oil, But Leaves Uranium Trade Untouched
A Russia sanctions bill passed by the US House gives Trump tariff authority against Indian oil imports, but leaves Russian uranium trade largely untouched -- a carve-out tied to US nuclear-fuel dependence, not India's own sourcing.
US Adds 13 Nuclear Fuel Projects to DOE Launch Pad, Targeting Uranium Enrichment and Reactor Fuel
The DOE's National Reactor Innovation Center added 13 projects spanning reactor design, uranium enrichment and fuel fabrication to its Launch Pad program, part of a push to rebuild the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.
