BWXT to Invest $714.5 Million in Jonesborough, Tennessee Uranium Metal Facility

BWXT will create 181 new jobs, more than doubling its current local workforce, and invest $714.5 million in Jonesborough, Tennessee, to produce High Purity Depleted Uranium (HPDU) metal for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

A new HPDU manufacturing plant at the existing site

In September 2025, NNSA awarded BWXT a 10-year contract valued at $1.6 billion to build an HPDU manufacturing plant at its Jonesborough site. Once completed, the facility will be the only active site capable of performing this critical process for the government. Construction has begun on the 325,000-square-foot facility in Washington County.

The project is supported by an economic development grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) through the state’s Nuclear Energy Fund. It is BWXT’s third project with the fund, following a $45 million Oak Ridge location and a $122 million expansion in Erwin announced in 2025.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said:

“When we created Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Fund, our goal was to cultivate an ecosystem where this industry could thrive. Today’s announcement from BWXT represents another significant investment in Tennessee and creates greater opportunity across Northeast Tennessee, including nearly 200 high-quality jobs.”

Jeff Messaros, general manager of BWXT Ordnance Tennessee said:

“We want to thank Gov. Bill Lee, Commissioner McWhorter and the State of Tennessee for the wonderful support we have received. This grant will help create benefits for the community that will last decades.”