LIS Technologies announced a $1.38 billion investment to build a commercial laser uranium enrichment facility on the K-25 site in Roane County, Tennessee. The company said the project will create 203 jobs and is intended to become the first U.S.-origin commercial laser uranium enrichment plant in the world. The announcement was made by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development on January 16, 2026.
What it means
The facility will be located on the former Duct Island site in Oak Ridge, where LIS Technologies already maintains its headquarters and laser enrichment research and development operations in the renovated K-1330 building. According to Jay Yu, executive chairman and CEO of LIS Technologies, selecting Oak Ridge is a strategic decision because the community represents the foundation of America’s enrichment capability. The company stated that its Laser Isotope Separation Technology (L.I.S.T) uses infrared lasers to selectively excite molecules of desired isotopes, which fundamentally changes the economics of enrichment by enabling faster deployment and lower capital intensity.
The technology is optimized for Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU), High-Assay LEU (HALEU), stable isotopes for medical and scientific research, and quantum computing manufacturing applications. LIS Technologies said its Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing process is underway as it moves toward construction readiness. This project marks the third-largest nuclear-related investment since the creation of the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Fund in 2023. The fund began with $50 million in the 2023-2024 budget and received additional $10 million allocations in both 2024 and 2025, bringing the total to $70 million. LIS Technologies is the seventh company to locate in Tennessee for commercial operations utilizing the fund.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy selected LIS Technologies as one of six domestic companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium Enrichment Acquisition Program. The DOE initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion in funding with contracts anticipated to last up to 10 years. Gov. Bill Lee said the state is leading the nation in advancing American energy independence and that the fund has positioned Tennessee at the forefront of cutting-edge research and development.
Key facts
- $1.38 billion investment amount for the Oak Ridge facility
- 203 jobs to be created by LIS Technologies
- Location: Historic K-25 uranium enrichment site (formerly Duct Island), Roane County, Tennessee
- First U.S.-origin commercial laser uranium enrichment plant
- LIS Technologies selected by DOE in 2024 for the Low-Enriched Uranium Enrichment Acquisition Program
- DOE program allocates up to $3.4 billion with contracts lasting up to 10 years
- Third-largest nuclear-related investment since creation of Tennessee Nuclear Energy Fund
- Nuclear Energy Fund total value: $70 million ($50 million initial, plus $10 million in 2024 and 2025)
Source: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development news release