The new cascade is the second to start up as part of an expansion of the National Enrichment Facility, which will see Urenco USA add 700,000 separative work units (SWU) of new capacity at the site between 2025-2027 and increase the plant's capacity by 15%. Urenco USA brought the initial cascade of the expansion online in May. Urenco USA is currently the only commercial producer of enriched uranium and has sufficient the capacity to meet around a third of the enrichment needs of US commercial nuclear power plants. The expansion supports the USA's goal of reinvigorating its nuclear industrial base and strengthening the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain, the company said. "We look forward to helping the company reach criticality next year and being part of the Aalo mission for many years to come."