Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) is a joint Australian company Silex Systems Limited (fifty one percent) and Canadian uranium and nuclear fuel provider Cameco Corporation (forty nine percent). GLE is the exclusive licensee of the SILEX laser technology for uranium enrichment.
     GLE has executed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. The purpose of the agreement is to develop areas of mutual interest and cooperation in the nuclear supply chain. GLE recently executed a similar LOI with Constellation Energy Generation.
     The LOI with Duke identifies a number of key areas of potential cooperation. Included in the list of areas of interest is the support of GLE’s deployment of the SILEX laser enrichment technology in the U.S. and the potential acceleration of commercialization timelines, according to Silex.
     Michael Goldsworthy is the CEO of Silex. He said, “The LOI between GLE and Duke Energy is another positive step in advancing GLE’s strategy to commercialize the SILEX technology and support the diversification of domestic US uranium, conversion and enrichment capabilities and capacity. As the US government ramps up initiatives to rebuild its domestic nuclear fuel supply chain and lessen its dependence on nuclear fuel imports, particularly from Russia, we anticipate GLE’s engagement with US nuclear power generators will help support the commercialization of the SILEX technology,”
     Duke Energy is one of the largest energy companies in the U.S. It operates eleven major nuclear power reactors across six sites in North Carolina and South Carolina.
     No decision has been made yet, but Silex and Cameco are reviewing the feasibility of accelerating GLE’s commercialization program in response to these emerging opportunities. They are, of course, subject to evolving market conditions.
     The agreement with Duke is the second LOI with U.S. companies announced in the last month by GLE. It executed a non-binding LOI with Constellation Energy Generation in early June to assess areas of possible cooperation. That LOI, like the one with Duke, also included measures to support GLE’s deployment of SILEX laser enrichment technology in the U.S. as well as diversifying U.S. domestic uranium, conversion and enrichment capabilities and capacity.
     GLE said that with “appropriate market signals and commercial support”, it might become a significant supplier of nuclear fuel for reactors in the U.S. and internationally.  “GLE is uniquely positioned, through its ongoing development and commercialization of laser enrichment technology in the United States, to address multiple emerging demands across the nuclear fuel supply chain as a result of global climate change and current geopolitical challenges, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
      These areas of interest include:
• Tails processing to produce natural-grade uranium hexafluoride (UF6). Alleviation of supply pressure on UF6 conversion supply.
• Building capacity to supply enrichment for the production of low-enriched uranium (LEU) and also low-enrichment uranium plus (LEU+)
• Building additional capacity to produce the high-assay LEU or HALEU fuels that will be needed by next generation advanced small modular reactors.

     James Dobchuk is the President and Chief Commercial Officer of GLE. He said that the LOI reflects GLE’s willingness to work together with other companies to accelerate development of laser enrichment technology to assist in diversification and bolster the security of the front end of the fuel cycle.