Powermag Article, page-16

Moosey

There are two things with that:

1. If you mean the NRC has not given a Licence for enrichment beyond 8%, sure but GLE could amend its application in the future to get higher enrichment. I don't see this hurdle being too onerous once the technology is commercialized and working as expected; and

2. The Agreement between the USA and Australia provides for enrichment upto 20% so this shouldn't be an issue unless they wanted to enrich for the submarines etc that use HEU for peaceful purposes. In any case once the technology is commercialized and there is a need for HEU for peaceful purposes, I would imagine the Oz government would agree to it. The wording and agreement are below


"3. Uranium used in or produced through the use of any sensitive nuclear facilities or major critical components subject to this Agreement shall not be enriched to 20 percent or greater in the isotope uranium 235 unless the Parties agree."

http://www.princeton.edu/~rskemp/SILEX-treaty.pdf