US secures historic 1.7-tonne uranium shipment from Japan for energy independence

The US has received 1.7 tonnes of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) from Japan in a historic transfer. This shipment marks the largest single international movement of uranium ever handled by the National Nuclear Security Administration. Officials say the material will play a key role in securing America’s future energy independence. The HALEU was originally produced to fuel Japan’s Fast Critical Assembly, a research reactor that operated from 1967. After decades of use, the uranium has now been repurposed for US advanced reactor programmes. The material will be processed at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to make it usable for American industry.

The transfer follows the Energy Act of 2020, which created the HALEU Availability Program to ensure domestic access to this specialised fuel. A 2025 Executive Order from President Donald Trump further directed the Department of Energy to secure a long-term supply and cut reliance on foreign sources. HALEU is essential for next-generation nuclear reactors, which require higher enrichment levels than traditional power plants.

The operation involved multiple agencies, including the US Department of Energy, Japan’s Ministry of Education and Science, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and the UK’s Nuclear Transport Solutions. Matthew Napoli, Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, called the transfer a major step toward a secure energy future while reinforcing nonproliferation commitments. The shipment will help fill the gap between HALEU supply and demand under the US Availability Program. Once processed, the fuel will support advanced reactor development across the country. This transfer also strengthens international cooperation on nuclear energy while reducing dependence on overseas suppliers.