North Carolina-based Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) completed its full licence application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) in July last year. It intends to re-enrich high-assay depleted uranium tails acquired from the Department of Energy at the facility at Paducah, Kentucky, and says the project represents a transformational investment opportunity for the greater Paducah region. It is expected to be the single largest capital investment in Western Kentucky’s history.
The performance-based incentive package will potentially provide up to USD98.9 million in tax and other economic incentives should GLE reach agreed investment and job creation thresholds, the company said.
“GLE greatly appreciates McCracken County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s enthusiasm and support for nuclear energy and the creation of new US domestic nuclear fuel sources,” GLE CEO Stephen Long said. “The incentive package reflects a shared vision for economic development, technological leadership, and the establishment of a resilient domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.”
GLE is the exclusive licensee of the SILEX laser enrichment technology invented by Australian company Silex Sytems Ltd. The company completed a large-scale uranium enrichment demonstration programme last year at its Wilmington, North Carolina Test Loop facility, reaching Technology Readiness Level 6, and is continuing its technology maturation program (TRL-7+) and full-scale preliminary detailed design for the PLEF.
The company said it “remains on track to begin re-enriching the DOE’s Paducah inventory of depleted uranium tails by 2030”.
