NRC Approves New Uranium Enrichment Facility

URENCO inaugurated its URENCO USA/LES enrichment facility in Eunice, New Mexico on June 2 and received NRC authorization to begin operating on June 10. This first time centrifuge technology has been used in the U.S. to supply enriched uranium to the civilian nuclear industry. When fully operational, the facility will produce sufficient enriched uranium for nuclear fuel to supply approximately 10% of the electricity needs for the US.

The facility is operated by URENCO USA/LES, a US subsidiary of URENCO Ltd. In August 2006, groundbreaking took place for the first nuclear facility to receive a joint construction and operational licence.

URENCO USA aerial shot, May 2010

URENCO USA/LES LES, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of URENCO Ltd. The URENCO USA, New Mexico plant is the nation’s most advanced uranium enrichment facility and will provide a secure domestic enrichment fuel supply source to US nuclear energy companies for many years to come.

The URENCO Group URENCO is an independent international energy and technology group with its head office based in Marlow in the United Kingdom. URENCO operates facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and New Mexico in the United States. It Currently URENCO fulfils around 25% of the global enrichment market, and aims to establish itself as the leading global supplier of enrichment and enrichment technology.