GLE begins its uranium demonstration testing

Global Laser Enrichment has begun its uranium demonstration at its Test Loop facility in Wilmington, N.C., the company announced in a May 7 press release.

The company said its testing program for the SILEX enrichment process is expected to be a pivotal validation of large-scale performance.

An independent engineering contractor will assess all of the company’s test results of its enrichment demonstration. During the demonstration, Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) said it expects to generate hundreds of kilograms of enriched uranium.

Investors have funded over $550 million into GLE’s engineering and licensing investments, which are in Kentucky and North Carolina. According to the press release, the Test Loop facility is the only uranium enrichment facility in the world that is not government-owned or heavily backed by government funding.

GLE was formed in 2007 by General Electric, Hitachi and Cameco to create uranium enrichment services. In 2019, GE Hitachi sold its 76% stake to Silex and Cameco and by 2021, the joint venture owners restructured its ownership to 51% for Silex and 49% for Cameco.

Silex is an Australian technology company that developed the SILEX laser uranium enrichment technology. Cameco is a uranium fuel provider company headquartered in Canada.

GLE said the maturity of the SILEX’s laser enrichment process is currently considered at Technology Readiness Level 6. The method’s scale ranges from level one, conceptual, to level nine, proven technology.