Aternium Selects Dover for US Heavy Water and Hydrogen Facility
Aternium has selected Dover, Delaware, as the site for its first commercial heavy water and high-purity hydrogen production facility, marking a major step towards building a domestic supply chain for critical materials used in advanced manufacturing, energy and technology industries.
The company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a site at Garrison Oak Technical Park and expects the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2026. The facility will serve as Aternium’s flagship US deployment and is expected to represent an investment of at least $226 million in the Dover region.
The project will produce heavy water, also known as deuterium oxide, alongside electrolytic hydrogen, helping strengthen domestic access to materials considered strategically important for sectors including semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, nuclear energy, advanced electronics, defence and emerging fusion technologies.
Aternium said the facility will help address a major supply chain challenge, as the United States currently has limited commercial-scale domestic heavy water production and relies heavily on overseas sources for this critical material.
The company expects the Dover development to create dozens of direct and support jobs, as well as hundreds of construction positions during the facility’s development and build-out.
Delaware Governor Matt Meyer said the investment would position the state at the forefront of next-generation energy and advanced manufacturing, highlighting the importance of domestic deuterium production for industries such as semiconductors, nuclear power and fusion technology.
Aternium Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr Andrew Cottone said Dover provides the right foundation for establishing a resilient US supply chain for heavy water and supporting future growth in strategic industries.
“This facility will help secure domestic access to an essential strategic material, create high-quality careers, support advanced manufacturing, and reinforce America’s leadership in energy, technology and national security,” Cottone said.
The Dover facility is expected to become the first in a planned network of production sites across the Mid-Atlantic region. Aternium’s wider development strategy includes additional facilities in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to create a scalable supply platform for growing customer demand.
The company is continuing engineering, permitting and stakeholder engagement activities as the project progresses towards construction and operation.
Local officials said the investment reflects Dover’s growing role in advanced manufacturing and innovation. Dover Mayor Robin R. Christiansen said the project represents a significant opportunity to strengthen the city’s industrial base and deliver long-term economic benefits for the community.
Aternium’s development programme aligns with wider US efforts to expand domestic production capacity for critical materials, improve energy security and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.
The company’s first commercial facility is expected to play a key role in supplying high-purity hydrogen and heavy water for emerging technologies, including clean energy applications and advanced industrial manufacturing.
