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The nuclear fuel used in nuclear reactors requires a higher concentration of the uranium isotope than what naturally exists in uranium ore. As the largest operating commercial enrichment facility in North America, Urenco USA utilizes gas centrifuge technology to separate two uranium isotopes, uranium-235 (U235) and uranium-238 (U238), and create enriched uranium product. The enriched uranium, U235, is fissionable in light water reactors, the most common nuclear reactor design in the U.S.
Urenco USA is licensed through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to enrich uranium to between 3 and 5% (from the natural state of 0.7%).