This is from ss thanks...

This is from ss thanks clocker!


http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100415/ARTICLES/100419797?Title=Global-Laser-Enrichment-to-build-commercial-uranium-enrichment-facility-at-Castle-Hayne-plant

Global Laser Enrichment to build commercial uranium enrichment facility at Castle Hayne plant

By Jim Brumm
[email protected]

Published: Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 12:41 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 12:41 p.m.

Global Laser Enrichment has begun design work on a commercial uranium enrichment facility following successful testing of the technology at GE?s nuclear fuel assembly plant in Castle Hayne.


The successful completion of the test loop program begun last summer was announced this week by Silex Systems, the Australian company that owns the laser enrichment technology.

On Wednesday, GE Hitachi chief executive Jack Fuller told a nuclear security conference in Washington that Global Laser ?has successfully completed early testing, in accordance with (federal) requirements. At the same time, we are just beginning Phase 2, where we will design the first commercial production facility.?

Fuller went on to discuss the safeguarding of the Global Laser Enrichment technology acquired from Silex in May 2006, pointing out the effort was based on a previous agreement between the U.S. and Australian governments to safeguard this process.

He called GE ?a natural fit to develop this technology? based on its half century of providing nuclear technology, including its safe and secure operation of fuel fabrication facilities since the 1950s, first in San Jose, Calif., then in Castle Hayne. The laser enrichment test loop was built here with permission of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

?During this time, we have worked very closely with the NRC to ensure compliance with the security protocols that apply to all sensitive nuclear technology in the United States,? Fuller said.

In October 2006, he noted, the U.S. Department of Energy formally approved GE?s acquisition of the technology and its transfer to the company?s facilities near Wilmington.