USEC Inc. (NYSE: USU) announced today that it continues to work on the American Centrifuge project and that USEC and the Department of Energy (DOE) have identified a path to provide interim funding for the initial phase of a research, development and demonstration (RD&D) program for the project.

This path would provide the basis for funding of the RD&D program activities through the end of March. In the meantime, USEC will continue to work with DOE and Congress to secure funding to complete the RD&D program.

The $300 million RD&D program proposed by DOE will enhance the technical and financial readiness of the centrifuge technology for commercialization. The RD&D program is expected to involve manufacturing and operating additional production-design machines so that key systems can be tested as they would actually operate at the scale necessary for full commercialization.

USEC Inc., a global energy company, is a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel and nuclear industry related services for commercial nuclear power plants.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future events. In this context, forward-looking statements may address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "will" and other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For USEC, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the outcome of ongoing discussions with DOE regarding the RD&D program and any interim funding, including uncertainty regarding the timing, amount and availability of funding for such RD&D program and the dependency of government funding on Congressional appropriations and the potential for us to make a decision at any time to further demobilize the project based on the timing and likelihood of an agreement with DOE and any government funding; the impact of any conditions that are placed on us or on the American Centrifuge project in connection with or as a condition to the RD&D program or other funding, including a restructuring of our role and investment in the project; limitations on our ability to provide any required cost sharing under the RD&D program; the ultimate success of efforts to obtain a DOE loan guarantee for the American Centrifuge project, including the ability through the RD&D program or otherwise to address the concerns raised by DOE with respect to the financial and project execution depth of the project, and the timing and terms thereof; the impact of actions we have taken or may take to reduce spending on the American Centrifuge project, including the potential loss of key suppliers and employees, and potential impacts to cost and schedule; the impact of delays in the American Centrifuge project and uncertainty regarding our ability to remobilize the project; the outcome of any discussions with DOE regarding modifications needed to the remaining milestones under the June 2002 DOE-USEC Agreement and the potential for DOE to seek to exercise its remedies under such agreement; risks related to the completion of the remaining two phases of the three-phased strategic investment by Toshiba Corporation ("Toshiba") and Babcock & Wilcox Investment Company ("B&W"), including uncertainty regarding the potential participation of Toshiba and B&W in any potential project structure that may be required under the RD&D program, the failure to finalize any extension of the standstill agreement that expired on October 31, 2011 if an agreement is not reached between USEC and DOE on a framework for the RD&D program and the potential for immediate termination of the securities purchase agreement governing their investments; our ability to extend, renew or replace our credit facility that matures on May 31, 2012; our ability to actively manage and enhance our liquidity and working capital and the potential adverse consequences of any actions taken on the long term value of our ongoing operations; changes in U.S. government priorities and the availability of government funding, including loan guarantees; uncertainty regarding the continued capitalization of certain assets related to the American Centrifuge Plant and the impact of a potential impairment of these assets on our results of operations and our deferred tax assets, including the potential for a valuation allowance; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on our website at www.usec.com. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements except as required by law.

USEC Inc.
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Paul Jacobson, 301-564-3399
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Steven Wingfield, 301-564-3354