• Solstice plans expansion of US conversion facility Solstice - which was spun-off from Honeywell in October last year - said it has invested in de-bottlenecking projects at Metropolis Works following its 2023 restart in response to strong customer demand for uranium hexafluoride (UF6). • The company’s expansion efforts, it said, are underpinned by its backlog of more than USD2 billion driven by orders from long-term customers, many of which are domestic utility companies, as well as the USA’s policy goal of quadrupling American nuclear energy capacity by 2050. • Backed in part by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Solstice said it is “actively exploring additional projects” to increase production at its Metropolis Works facility. • The company has also retained a leading engineering, procurement and construction firm to conduct an initial engineering analysis for new capacity expansion investments and, at the same time, has initiated long-term supply discussions with customers. • “Solstice has stepped up production of UF6, a critical component in the nuclear fuel supply chain, with the support of disciplined capital investments and improved operational excellence at our Metropolis Works facility,” said Solstice President and CEO David Sewell. • “Leveraging our 60-plus years of operational excellence, industry leadership and proprietary expertise, we are exceedingly well-positioned to ensure our capacity to produce converted uranium is aligned with the industry and its rapid expansion.” Metropolis was built in the 1950s to meet military conversion requirements, and began providing UF6 for civilian use in the late 1960s.

Article Summaries:

  • Solstice, a spin‑off from Honeywell, announced plans to expand its Metropolis Works UF₆ conversion plant after a 2023 restart that was driven by strong demand from U.S. utilities. The company has invested in de‑bottlenecking projects and is exploring additional capacity upgrades, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy. With a backlog exceeding $2 billion and a strategic alignment with the U.S. goal of quadrupling nuclear capacity by 2050, Solstice is conducting engineering studies and long‑term supply negotiations. Metropolis, originally built in the 1950s for military use, was reduced to 7,000 tU/year in 2017, suspended production, and resumed operations in July 2023. The plant’s UF₆ is marketed exclusively by ConverDyn, a partnership with General Atomics.

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