Global Laser Enrichment (GLE)

Global Laser Enrichment, LLC (GLE) is operating a test loop at the Global Nuclear Fuels-America, LLC (GNF-A) plant in Wilmington, NC. They operate under the GNF-A special nuclear material (SNM) license SNM-1097.

Background:
In 2012, GLE was majority owned by General Electric Hitachi, LLC, (GEH). At that time, they received an NRC license to operate a laser enrichment facility to be built at the GE-Wilmington site. On January 5, 2021, GLE terminated the SNM-2019 license as part of the transfer of ownership from GEH to SILEX Systems Ltd. (51% ownership by an Australian company) and Cameco Corporation (49% ownership by a Canadian Company), which was completed in February 2021. Under the new ownership structure, GLE continues to operate a test loop at the GNF-A fuel fabrication facility plant and the greater Wilmington area. The test loop operations have progressed from bench-scale operations to an industrial sized separator. GLE plans to continue to operate the test loop to optimize the industrial design for the PLEF.

In 2024 GLE engaged the NRC with plans to submit a license application to the NRC to construct and operate the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) in Paducah, KY. The projected purpose of the PLEF facility would be to re-enrich depleted uranium tails available to GLE under a 2016 contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management. Starting in early 2025 the NRC and GLE began pre‑application activities. 

Status:
GLE submitted a new license application for PLEF consisting of the Environmental Report on June 13, 2025 and Safety and Safeguards Analysis Report on June 27, 2025. The application was accepted for docketing and formal review on August 4, 2025.

• Inspection Reports
• Event Notification Reports
• Global Laser Enrichment Facility Licensing

• Public Affairs:
  800-368-5642
  301-415-8200
• Project Manager
  Matt Bartlett – 301-415-7145
  Eben Allen – 301-415-2438

• SNM 1097 License application
• SNM 1097 Safety Evaluation Report (NUREG-2120)
• SNM 1097 Environmental Impact Statement (NUREG-1938)
• Approval for Termination of SNM-2019
• January 5, 2021 - Approval of Stand Alone Facility Clearance
• 2025 Environmental Report
• 2025 License Application

• ADAMS – for additional documents
• Agreement State Director/State Liaison Officer
• FEMA's State Offices and Agencies of Emergency Management
• Fuel Cycle Facilities Oversight
• Materials home page
• NRC Emergency Preparedness and Response
• Nuclear Materials Quick Links
• Other Facilities in North Carolina
• United States Environmental Protection Agency