All proposals are now in for a Request for Offers from the Department of Energy for the purchase of depleted uranium at the Paducah and Portsmouth sites and the potential use of Paducah facilities. DOE released the RFO on July 3 in an effort to seek use of the assets at the sites, and its results could help fund cleanup work and influence DOE’s procurement for deactivation work at Paducah. GE-Hitachi’s Global Laser Enrichment has said it is exploring the possibility of developing an enrichment plant at the Paducah site. GLE has officially submitted a response to the DOE’s request for bids,” spokesman Christopher White said in a written response. “We look forward to DOE’s response and are excited about the prospect of bringing our laser technology to this opportunity.” Enrichment companies URENCO and USEC have also expressed interest in the depleted uranium. DOE said expects to make any selections in the fall and enter into agreements by early 2014.
Notably, Kentucky officials have pushed for a use of uranium and facilities at Paducah as a potential economic benefit the region in the wake of the Paducah plant shutdown. The RFO states, “DOE will consider Offers that intend to make use of the existing facilities and/or new facilities on the Paducah, KY, site (Paducah site). Successful negotiation of a lease for the use of the existing facilities and/or land for a new enrichment facility at the Paducah site will be a condition for a UF6 inventories purchase agreement with an Offeror that intends to use the Paducah site. ”