"The enriched fuel provided by GLE would be from a domestic (US) Company; lawmakers, military leaders, etc., believe this is necessary to ensure supply. "
Not sure where you get you info from Robey, but looking at the imports of Uranium today, it certainly doesn't correspond with what you are saying?
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=2150
Owners and operators of U.S. commercial nuclear power reactors purchased nearly 47 million pounds of uranium from U.S. and foreign suppliers during 2010;
92% of this total was of foreign origin.
Historically, U.S. owners and operators have purchased the majority of their uranium from foreign sources. Russia, Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan, and Namibia represent the top five countries of origin for U.S. uranium, and together account for 85% of total U.S. uranium purchases in 2010. Owners and operators of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants purchased uranium from a total of 14 different countries in 2010.
"The MOX Nuclear Plant would not be able to provide said enriched fuel for most nuclear plants now operating in the US."
Yes that is the case for sure, not many reactors can use MOX fuel, but still the US forges ahead with a MOX plant at Savanah River, whose fuel has not been accepted by one plant in the US as far as I have read?
The ABWR is one type of plant that can use MOX fuel, do you think the US would not legislate that any further nuclear plants to be built in the US had to be capable of using this MOX fuel derived from used nuclear fuel, if GLE had found a way of producing that fuel and in the process ridding the US and the world for that matter of used nuclear fuel?
Of course they would jump at the chance of having a means to get rid of used nuclear fuel in a way that would mean that they get any new fuel for these ABWR's for a hell of a lot less than what they pay now and in the process get rid of a problem that has been hounding the US and the world for that matter for years and in turn this would mean that that 92% of foreign imports into the US of Uranium would stop, it's a bloody no brainer!
Regarding the ‘write-downs by Cameco’
So you think that fact that Cameco could lose it's portion (22%) of exports of Uranium to the US as being trivial and something that Cameco doesn't even give a second thought to??
Don't think so!
I believe Cameco have gone from what they first though of, as a value adding investment, to one that may end up costing them the bulk of their business, that's if this new MOX fuel technology becomes reality? the part you mention about the write downs for Tax purposes is correct though!
That is just something that is done for accounting purposes.
As far as mobile plant go for cleanups, yes that may be possible in the future perhaps, but I doubt it would be the main driver at this point, perfecting the technology would be their prime concern!
(20min delay)