With the path for nuclear energy cleared in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the industry contributing $63.8 billion to the country’s GDP, according to Oxford Economics, one company has created a new way to enrich uranium.Global Laser Enrichment, a North Carolina based company, announced the acquisition of land in the vicinity of the Department of Energy Paducah site and, if approved by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, could begin the new process within the next five years.The process, known as laser separation or “laser enrichment,” is new in the United States and has never been used commercially as a way to produce nuclear fuel.James Dobchuk is the president and chief commercial officer of Global Laser Enrichment, the company that has the exclusive technology to process uranium using lasers in the United States.“Our process uses laser light to excite U235 isotopes, and we separate the U235 isotopes from the other uranium isotopes as part of our process, again, using laser light versus the centrifuge technology, which is commonly used all over the world today,” Dobchuk said.The 665-acre land transfer for the new facility has been completed, and the company plans to finalize their application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in mid-2025, with the NRC expected to make their decision within 30 months.Dobchuk does not expect any issues with the process.The facility in Paducah will be the first commercial laser uranium enrichment facility in the United States.Once completed, the facility will be producing around 5-million pounds of uranium annually, accounting for about 10% of the country’s uranium demand. Dobchuk also said some of what they produce will be on the international market.“Today, the existing fleet of reactors in the U.S. uses between 45 and 50 million pounds of U308 equivalent in a given year,” Dobchuk said. “We’ll be producing the equivalent of 5 million pounds of U308 a year for anywhere between 30/35 years.”Dobchuk said he is thankful to the Paducah community and all the support he has received throughout the state.“We have had just tremendous support, working with everyone in economic development circles in Paducah and Western Kentucky, with the Chamber of Commerce, you know, we’re already working with it, with local contractors, and we’ve had terrific experiences there, you know, the state, the governor’s office, Economic Development Cabinet, all those folks have been very, very supportive,” Dobchuk said. “Of course, the Federal engagement from Kentucky, both senators, you know, Representative Comer, they’ve all been, they’ve all been very, very helpful.”Congressman James Comer (R-KY) said he is supportive of the initiative to bring GLE to the region.“I am excited about the future of the former PGDP site, the potential jobs associated with uranium enrichment in Paducah going forward, and remain committed to assisting at the federal level,” Comer said.McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer said this puts Paducah on the nuclear energy map, not just domestically, but internationally.“Nuclear is the future,” Clymer said. “We’re going to be on top of it, and it’s exciting to be a part of that, to see that happen, and it’s going to put us, not just the regional map or the national map, but the global map for a source of nuclear energy through re-enriched uranium.”The Department of Energy confirmed that the company had an existing license to laser enrich uranium in Wilmington, North Carolina, but never built out the facility.The company hopes the Paducah facility will be operational by 2030.
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