Usec Announces American Centrifuge Program Passes "Station Blackout" Test

The USEC

American Centrifuge program in Piketon, Ohio, has successfully passed an unannounced “station blackout” test that is part of a program to prove the uranium enrichment technology's technical readiness. Technicians, without warning, interrupted the external power supply to the commercial demonstration cascade facilities in order to test the responsiveness of equipment, backup systems and personnel at the uranium enrichment plant to a total loss of outside power. This test is part of the cost-shared research, development and demonstration (RD&D) program with the Department of Energy (DOE), designed to demonstrate the technical readiness of the American Centrifuge to meet national security needs. “I am pleased to report that all of our personnel