The US is seeking bids from contractors to help establish a domestic supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium (Haleu) – a crucial material needed for use in a next generation of reactors and currently only available in commercial levels from Russia.

The US Department of Energy said on Tuesday (10 January) it had issued a request for proposals for uranium enrichment services to help establish a reliable domestic supply of fuels using Haleu.

The DOE is seeking contracts for a maximum of 10 years from enrichment service companies to produce Haleu, uranium fuel that is enriched up to 20%, compared with traditional uranium fuel used in today’s commercial reactors of about 5%.

It said Haleu is not commercially available from US-based suppliers, and boosting domestic supply could spur the development and deployment of advanced reactors in the country, helping to reach president Joe Biden’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.