Why do nuclear power plants need enriched uranium?

Most of the 500 commercial nuclear power reactors operating or under construction in the world today require uranium 'enriched' in the U-235 isotope for their fuel. The commercial process employed for this enrichment involves gaseous uranium in centrifuges. read more

Enriched uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency attempts to monitor and control enriched uranium supplies and processes in its efforts to ensure nuclear power generation safety and curb nuclear weapons proliferation. read more

Both plants enriched uranium for commercial use and were regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Since then, both plants have been shut down. The certificates were transferred back to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); the agency responsible for the safe decommissioning of the plants. read more