Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) announced that large-scale testing of its laser enrichment technology at the Test Loop facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, has confirmed the commercial feasibility of the process. The campaign began in May and has since collected extensive performance data, which the company said demonstrates that the SILEX enrichment process can be commercially deployed.

GLE's vision of the PLEF facility

The demonstration program will continue through the remainder of 2025. During this period, GLE expects to produce hundreds of kilograms of low-enriched uranium (LEU) while progressing toward the development of a domestic manufacturing base and supply chain to support U.S. enrichment capacity.

GLE CEO Stephen Long said: "We believe the enrichment activities conducted over the past five months position GLE to be the next American uranium enrichment solution," noting that about 20% of U.S. electricity generation comes from nuclear energy. He added: "This will allow America to end its dangerous dependency on a fragile, foreign government-owned uranium fuel supply chain."

GLE is a joint venture between Silex Systems of Australia, which holds a 51% share, and Cameco Corporation of Canada, with 49%. The company is the exclusive global licensee of the SILEX laser enrichment technology developed by Silex Systems. Earlier this year, GLE submitted an application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to establish the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) in Kentucky. The facility is planned for the commercial deployment of the technology, re-enriching depleted uranium tails from former U.S. Department of Energy gaseous diffusion plant operations.

The Paducah project is supported by a long-term agreement signed in 2016 with the U.S. Department of Energy for the sale of about 200,000 tonnes of depleted uranium hexafluoride inventory. From this resource, PLEF is expected to generate up to 6 million separative work units of LEU annually. This output would provide a domestic, single-site solution encompassing uranium supply, conversion, and enrichment.

Industry observers consider the progress at Wilmington an important milestone for commercial deployment. By demonstrating sustained enrichment capability, GLE has advanced its readiness for future operations at Paducah. The continuation of the testing campaign into 2025 reflects the company’s strategy to scale production steadily while building the infrastructure required for long-term supply commitments.

The SILEX process is recognized for its potential to provide efficiency and flexibility in uranium enrichment compared with conventional methods. Its deployment could support reliable fuel supply for the nuclear power sector, which remains a key component of the U.S. electricity mix.

GLE emphasized that the ongoing program not only validates the technology but also lays the foundation for a secure and competitive enrichment capacity. The combination of existing agreements, domestic resources, and advanced technology positions the company to play a significant role in future uranium supply chains.