Nuclear Power Related Media Thread, page-4780

I noticed in yesterday announcement about Russian bans on Uranium it was mainly concerned with LEU, looking back at recent developments with Silex. perhaps they were asked to concentrate on LEU because of the shortage of UF6 and not HALEU at this point?
I was also interesting to re read the announcement by Silex again, why would GEH allow GLE to build their headquarters at Wilmington if indeed it was on the GEH site and what manufacturing plant will there be, makes one wonder?
Sometimes it pays to look back at prior announcements to get a clearer picture of what is really happening now!

https://clients3.weblink.com.au/pdf/SLX/02788259.pdf


Silex Systems Limited | ABN 69 003 372 067
LHSTC, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights NSW 2234
Telephone: +61 2 9704 8888 | Facsimile: +61 2 9704 8851 | Website: www.silex.com.au
GLE’s Evaluation of U.S. Department of Energy
HALEU Enrichment Acquisition RFP
25 March 2024
Silex Systems Limited (Silex) (ASX: SLX; OTCQX: SILXY) advises that Global Laser
Enrichment LLC (GLE), the exclusive licensee of the third-generation laser-based SILEX
uranium enrichment technology, has completed its evaluation of the U.S. Department of
Energy’s (DOE) Request for Proposal (RFP) for the enrichment acquisition of high-assay, low-
enriched uranium (HALEU). In conjunction with its owners Silex and Cameco, GLE has
decided not to submit a proposal to the DOE.
It has been determined that the RFP does not warrant GLE changing from its first commercial
priority of establishing the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) for production of natural
grade uranium hexafluoride (UF6). The PLEF opportunity is underpinned by the 2016
agreement between GLE and the DOE, which, through the acquisition of over 200,000 metric
tonnes of depleted tails owned by the DOE, provides the feedstock for the production of natural
UF6 at a planned rate equivalent to the production of around 5 million pounds of uranium a
year for approximately 30 years. GLE will continue to engage with key stakeholders and
actively assess additional opportunities for industry and government support to potentially
accelerate commercial deployment of the SILEX technology at the planned PLEF.
GLE is currently awaiting details from the DOE regarding the previously disclosed potential
US$100 million funding opportunity announcement to support novel enrichment technology,
which is expected to be published this year. In addition, US$2.7 billion in funding was recently
authorised by the U.S. Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024 and signed into
law by President Biden to support domestic production of enriched nuclear fuels. The US$2.7
billion of funding, which is contingent on a U.S. government ban on Russian nuclear fuel
imports, is expected to provide support for production of both Low Enriched Uranium and
HALEU. We continue to encourage the DOE to move expeditiously to publish all available
funding opportunities to create a competitive, diverse U.S. fuel supply chain and to enable the
cessation of reliance on Russian-sourced nuclear fuel.
GLE will continue the accelerated demonstration of the SILEX technology at its Test Loop pilot
facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. In addition, the recently approved CY2024 plan and
budget allows GLE to progress other key project activities, including Paducah, KY, site
acquisition activities, preparing an NRC license application for the PLEF, and completion and
commissioning of the new GLE corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in
Wilmington, NC.