LESS THAN A MONTH LEFT FOR NEGOTIATING PADUCAH EXTENSION

The Department of Energy and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant operator USEC have less than one month to finalize negotiations on an extension for operations at the plant before it stops enrichment activities. USEC is currently running the plant as part of a one-year DOE uranium tails reenrichment that is set to run out at the end of May, but both USEC and DOE officials have said in recent months that they are in talks regarding a possible extension of operations at the plant. “We’re still in the process of determining the future activities at the plant and its workforce needs,” USEC spokesman Paul Jacobson said. “Once we have determined the future workload and personnel needs at the plant, we will announce it in due course. Discussions are continuing on a possible extension and we are concurrently planning for enrichment cessation at the end of May.” Due to low demand and high costs, USEC has said it will shut down Paducah at the end of the month unless it works out a way to run it that makes economic sense.