Agreement between QLE’s South African subsidiary and Necsa related to the siting, design, construction, commission and operation of an enrichment facility on the Necsa site in Pelindaba, with QLE’s objective to achieve market readiness for production of nuclear fuel
The collaboration leverages QLE’s in-licensed and proprietary enrichment technology and Necsa’s globally-recognized production facilities
ASP Isotopes Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPI) (“ASPI”) today announced that on February 20, 2026, a South African subsidiary of Quantum Leap Energy LLC (“QLE” or the “Company”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASPI dedicated to advancing innovative technologies and processes across critical segments of the fission and fusion nuclear fuel cycle, and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (“Necsa”) executed a Pre-Implementation Services Contract Agreement (“Services Contract”) as part of the planned collaboration on the research, development and ultimately commercial production of High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU), marking a critical step forward in addressing global nuclear fuel supply needs for next generation fission reactors.
Necsa’s mandate and expertise is in nuclear research and technology innovation and is amongst world leaders in nuclear technologies. The Services Contract builds on the previously announced MOU between ASPI’s South African subsidiary and Necsa, and leverages QLE’s enrichment capabilities alongside Necsa’s world-class capabilities and strategic positioning in the global nuclear value chain. Under the Services Contract, Necsa has agreed to provide to QLE’s South African subsidiary, Quantum Leap Energy (Pty) Ltd. (“QLE SA”), certain facilities, infrastructure, utilities and services related to the siting, design, construction, commission and operation of an enrichment facility on the Necsa site in Pelindaba. A Joint Coordination Committee, to be comprised of two representatives of QLE SA and Necsa, has been established to oversee and govern the implementation of the Services Contract.
QLE’s objective for the collaboration with Necsa is to achieve market readiness for HALEU production. The collaboration positions QLE to conduct research and development activities for enrichment operations at Necsa’s Pelindaba site, leveraging QLE’s in-licensed and proprietary enrichment technology alongside Necsa’s established nuclear infrastructure, subject to Necsa’s prevailing site regulations, safety protocols and security requirements, and applicable National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) and other regulatory approvals. This initiative is in line with Necsa’s growth strategic framework of optimizing its nuclear fuel capabilities. The QLE-Necsa initiative represents an important step toward establishing diverse and reliable HALEU supply chains to support next-generation nuclear energy deployment.
“This milestone represents a significant advancement in our commercial partnership with Necsa and its proven infrastructure for the development of nuclear materials,” said Ryno Pretorius, CEO of Quantum Leap Energy. “Gaining access to this internationally-recognized facility is intended to help us to move from planning to implementation, and advance our goal of providing a reliable HALEU supply for next-generation reactors to meet rapidly growing market demand for HALEU nuclear fuel.”
“Necsa intends to optimize global networks of over 60 years and complementary capabilities on enrichment with QLE. Necsa is on a growth expansion trajectory and appreciates collaboration which opens more avenues for exploration and a broader market reach,” said Loyiso Tyabashe, Necsa Group Chief Executive Officer. “Our extensive experience in nuclear technologies and established global distribution network positions this partnership to make a meaningful contribution to the emerging HALEU market.”
This commercial partnership comes at a critical time as advanced reactor technologies requiring HALEU fuel are being developed globally at an accelerating pace to meet the clean, baseload power demands of AI data center infrastructure and industrial electrification. HALEU is a crucial fuel for small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear reactor designs. The United States Department of Energy estimates that by 2035, the country will need 50 metric tons per year of HALEU to support its commercial nuclear power industry, escalating to 500 metric tons per year by 2050.
