METROPOLIS, Ill. — A critical piece of America's nuclear energy infrastructure is located in Southern Illinois, where a specialized manufacturing facility is expanding production to help strengthen the nation's domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.
Solstice Advanced Materials welcomed federal, state and local officials, along with representatives of the nuclear energy industry, to its Metropolis Works facility on November 12 to recognize a significant production milestone and highlight the operation's importance to America's energy security.
Metropolis Works, the only uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) conversion facility in the United States, is expected to produce more than 10 kilotonnes of UF₆ in 2026. That represents an approximately 20% increase over its 2024 planned production baseline, which comes two years ahead of schedule. Plans are in place to increase production even further in the coming years.
The production increase, backed in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), comes as the United States works to strengthen domestic nuclear fuel capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
The milestone also represents an important step toward securing the long-term future of a major Southern Illinois manufacturing operation that supports hundreds of jobs and contributes millions of dollars annually to the regional economy.
"The future of the Metropolis Works will be built on the things that have defined the past," said David Sewell, President and CEO of Solstice. "Technical capability, operating discipline, and commitment to the community we live and work. We are confident in the capability of this site and we are excited to build on this foundation."
Turning Uranium into Nuclear Fuel
Producing nuclear fuel involves several specialized steps, beginning with uranium mined from the ground.
After mining, uranium ore is processed into a concentrated material commonly known as "yellowcake," typically uranium oxide. Before that material can be enriched and eventually fabricated into nuclear fuel, it must undergo a conversion process.
That's where Metropolis Works plays a critical role.
The facility converts uranium concentrates into uranium hexafluoride, or UF₆, a chemical compound that can be transformed into a gas for the uranium enrichment process.
Enrichment increases the concentration of uranium-235, the isotope used in most commercial nuclear reactors. The enriched uranium is then processed further and fabricated into fuel pellets and assemblies used to generate electricity at nuclear power plants.
Metropolis Works performs this essential conversion step, making it a vital link between uranium mining and enrichment.
The facility has more than 60 years of operational experience and remains the only domestic operation capable of performing this specialized conversion process at commercial scale.
According to Solstice Advanced Materials, approximately 85% of global uranium enrichment capacity is located outside the United States, further highlighting the importance of maintaining domestic capabilities throughout the nuclear fuel cycle.
Expanding Production to Meet Growing Energy Demand
The production milestone comes amid renewed national attention on nuclear energy and the industrial infrastructure required to support it.
Nuclear power currently supplies approximately 19% of electricity generated in the United States and remains one of the nation's largest sources of carbon-free electricity.
As electricity demand increases, particularly from expanding industrial operations, data centers and other energy-intensive industries, maintaining reliable sources of power has become an increasingly important national priority.
The federal government has established a policy goal of quadrupling U.S. nuclear energy capacity by 2050, an effort that would require significant investment not only in nuclear reactors but also in the industrial facilities that produce their fuel.
Metropolis Works is positioned to play an important role in meeting that demand.
Solstice Advanced Materials has announced plans to increase production capacity at the facility, supported by an existing order backlog exceeding $2 billion. That backlog is driven by long-term customer contracts, many involving domestic utility companies.
The company has also partnered with a third-party engineering, procurement and construction firm to evaluate additional expansion opportunities at Metropolis Works.
These efforts build upon the facility's existing infrastructure, specialized manufacturing capabilities and established role in the nuclear fuel industry.
A Significant Economic Driver for Southern Illinois
Beyond its national importance, Metropolis Works represents a substantial industrial investment and economic contributor to Southern Illinois.
According to company figures from January 2026, the facility supports more than 324 employees, including contract service workers, and generates approximately $26.3 million in annual payroll, excluding contract service workers.
The manufacturing operation encompasses approximately 1,100 acres in Metropolis, making it a significant industrial presence in Massac County.
Its workforce includes highly skilled employees responsible for operating and maintaining specialized equipment, managing complex chemical processes and meeting stringent safety and regulatory requirements.
The facility operates under a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission license valid through 2060, providing a long-term regulatory framework for its continued operations.
For the region, the combination of specialized employment, significant payroll and established industrial infrastructure demonstrates the importance of retaining and supporting advanced manufacturing operations.
The production milestone also reinforces Southern Illinois' ability to support industries that are critical to national infrastructure, energy security and economic competitiveness.
"Solstice's milestone is significant," said Mark Denzler, President & CEO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. "Reaching 10,000 metric tons of production demonstrates what Illinois manufactures can do when a company invests in its facility, equips its workforce, and commits to delivering a capability of national importance. The combination of advance infrastructure and deeply experienced people is the foundation of modern manufacturing."
Strengthening America's Domestic Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain
The importance of Metropolis Works extends beyond the facility itself.
America's nuclear energy industry depends on an interconnected supply chain that includes uranium mining and milling, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication and electricity generation.
Each step requires specialized industrial capabilities, infrastructure and technical expertise.
When domestic capacity is limited at any stage, the industry becomes more dependent on international suppliers and services.
Metropolis Works serves as the nation's sole domestic uranium conversion facility, helping reduce that dependence and strengthen the reliability of the overall nuclear fuel supply chain.
The facility's production expansion supports national efforts to maintain secure supplies of nuclear fuel while meeting the needs of existing and future nuclear power plants.
That role has become increasingly important as the United States evaluates opportunities to expand nuclear generation, strengthen grid reliability and support growing electricity demand.
Solstice Advanced Materials identifies three primary benefits associated with continued investment in Metropolis Works: improving grid reliability through secure nuclear fuel supplies, strengthening domestic supply chain resilience and sustaining a highly skilled workforce and long-term industrial presence in Southern Illinois.
Part of a Global Advanced Materials Company
Metropolis Works is part of Solstice Advanced Materials, a global specialty materials company serving industries ranging from nuclear energy and semiconductor manufacturing to healthcare, refrigeration, building insulation and advanced technologies.
The company serves more than 3,000 customers across more than 120 countries and operates 21 manufacturing sites and four research and development centers.
Across the United States, Solstice supports more than 3,200 employees, including contract service workers, and maintains a broad manufacturing and technology footprint.
Its operations include materials used in artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced semiconductor manufacturing, defense applications, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and specialized industrial processes.
Within that global portfolio, Metropolis Works holds a particularly important position as the only domestic facility capable of converting uranium into UF₆ for the commercial nuclear fuel supply chain.
The November 12 event brought attention to an operation that often works behind the scenes but performs an essential function in producing the fuel that powers nuclear reactors across the country.
Building on a Strong Foundation for the Future
For Metropolis and Southern Illinois, the production milestone represents more than an increase in manufacturing output.
It highlights the continued importance of an established industrial operation that supports hundreds of skilled jobs, generates millions of dollars in annual payroll and contributes to a critical national industry.
With an existing order backlog exceeding $2 billion, continued federal support and the evaluation of additional expansion opportunities, Metropolis Works is positioned to remain an important part of America's domestic nuclear fuel infrastructure.
Its operating license through 2060, combined with more than six decades of operational experience, provides an established foundation for continued investment and long-term planning.
As the United States works to strengthen its nuclear energy capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign fuel suppliers, the specialized conversion services provided by Metropolis Works will remain essential to that effort.
For Southern Illinois, this milestone reinforces the long-term viability of Metropolis Works and helps position the facility for continued investment, sustained operations and future growth. It also underscores the region's important role in strengthening America's energy security while supporting the skilled workforce and industrial capabilities that will help shape the future of Metropolis and Southern Illinois for decades to come.