"If they don't want [the U-233] there [at Oak Ridge], heck, we'll take it in Alabama!"
- Senator Tommy Tuberville on 2022-04-27 (April 27th)
There's been occasional inquiries from legislators about the downblending (destruction) of Uranium-233 taking place.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine puts a spotlight on this, as HALEU for USA's upcoming SMR fleet was to be purchased from Russia.
U-233 is an alternate fissile to HALEU. Only 450kg remain not enough to address HALEU fleet deployment issues.
But 450kg is enough research running SMRs with U-233 fissile!
I'm in Canada, and our CANDU run on natural uranium. Apparently even SNC-Lavalin is moving ahead with their CANDU SMR (which can run on natural uranium thanks to heavy-water moderator)... so all Russian HALEU seems a bit less urgent to, say, Canada's clean-energy independence from Russia.
But DOE explicitly excludes heavy-water moderated research from funding! (Just like Th/U233 fuel cycle.) See attachments for details on that... is like DOE is absolutely not-interested in anything other than HALEU?
Yet, Canada has big plans for SMRs designed to be fuelled with HALEU.
Any shortage of HALEU would then toss nuclear into the bucked of "resource constrained" power sources, where fuel shortages are actually a thing.
The remaining 450kg is a good hedge against that future. U-233 can be created in CANDU. Fuelled by natural-uranium, with a breeder-blanket of Thorium. (No enrichment required.)
More efficiently, Uranium-233 could be bred in molten-salt reactors with Thorium breeder blankets.
This is a reasonable hedge against further unforeseen HALEU supply constraints. Just being able to conduct research with the remaining U-233.
Research Notes (also see attachments):
Accelerate creation of HALEU : S.4066 - Fueling Our Nuclear Future Act of 2022
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4066/text?r=1&s=1
Reliance on Russian Uranium Worries Lawmakers, Nuclear Experts Chinese thorium dominance, loss of domestic uranium Industry trouble insiders (yeah yeah Epoch Times, I know):
https://www.theepochtimes.com/reliance-on-russian-uranium-worries-lawmakers-nuclear-experts_4432619.html
Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2023 and the Future Years Defense Program
https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/to-receive-testimony-on-the-department-of-energys-atomic-energy-defense-activities-and-department-of-defense-nuclear-weapons-programs-in-review-of-the-defense-authorization-request-for-fiscal-year-2023-and-the-future-years-defense-program
Bob Olsen on making U233 at TEAC10 - 7:30 we wanted Russians to think we were making Pu for weapons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TrTo4ZePSQ
Sen. Joe Manchin Questions Dr. Kathryn Huff During Nominations Hearing - need alternative to non-domestic uranium (Russia prob) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cxqD-9ILPk
Katy Huff other Q&A U233: https://www.energy.senate.gov/hearings/2022/3/hearing-to-consider-the-nomination-of-kathryn-huff-to-be-an-assistant-secretary-of-energy-for-nuclear-energy
Rep. Duncan Congress should recognize China's nuclear ambitions: https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/556820-congress-should-recognize-chinas-nuclear-ambitions-and/
Rep. Duncan speaks at the E & C Committee - Thorium U233 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpX0Q_eSRLs