In Wilmington, North Carolina, Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) has completed a large-scale uranium enrich ment test campaign using its laser-based technology. These activities, conducted at the Test Loop test facility, allowed the company to gather operational data that supports the technical and commercial viability of the SILEX process, developed in conjunction with Australian firm Silex Systems.
This demonstration program will continue through the end of 2025, with the production of several hundred kilograms of low enriched uranium (LEU). (LEU). In parallel, GLE is strengthening the domestic manufacturing and supply chain to sustain future commercial deployment of enrichment capabilities within the United States.
U.S. strengthens energy independence with local technology
GLE CEO Stephen Long noted that the technology positions the company as a strategic alternative to dependence on foreign nuclear supply chains. Currently, 20% of U.S. electricity comes from nuclear reactors, underscoring the importance of having a domestic source of LEU fuel.
The next step is the deployment of the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) in Kentucky. This plant, which is still in the process of being licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, will utilize the SILEX process process to re-enrich more than 200,000 metric tons of depleted uranium from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The facility is expected to be able to generate up to 6 million separative work units annually, making it a comprehensive solution for the nuclear fuel cycle. nuclear fuel cycle the country’s nuclear fuel cycle.
Uranium enrichment efficiency and safety
The SILEX process represents an advanced alternative to traditional methods such as gaseous diffusion and centrifugation. Through the selective excitation of uranium hexafluoride molecules, the system achieves efficient separation of the fissile isotope U-235. This technique reinforces safety and traceability controls in enrichment.
With more than $550 million already invested in development, engineering and licensing, GLE is advancing its goal of leading a modern and safe nuclear infrastructure. The collaboration with Silex Systems has been crucial in scaling this technology from its experimental stages to a real operational environment, while maintaining a focus on sustainability, safety and technological self-sufficiency for the U.S. market.
The technical validation obtained in the tests places GLE in a unique position to play a leading role in the country’s energy future.
Source: Global Laser Enrichment
Photo: Silex
