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Global Laser Enrichment (GLE)

Life cycle timeline showing current status, consisting of 6 various stages of status (Pre-Licensing, Licensing, Construction, Operating, Operating with Intent to Decommission, Decommissioning) with the current status shown in bright green color, and the other available status are greyed out

Aerial photo of Global Laser Enrichment, Wilmington, NC

Location: Wilmington, NC
Licensee: Global Laser Enrichment, LLC
Operating License: SNM-2019 issued - September 25, 2012
License Terminated: January 5, 2021
Docket Number: 07007033

Facility Type: Uranium Enrichment – Laser Separation

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Facility Status
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. Status: 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. GLE has publicly announced future plans to submit a license application to the NRC to operate a 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.

Facility Status

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.

Status:
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. GLE has publicly announced future plans to submit a license application to the NRC to operate a 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.

Facility Information	NRC Employee Contacts
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
Key Documents	Related Information
License application Safety Evaluation Report (NUREG-2120) Environmental Impact Statement (NUREG-1938) Approval for Termination of SNM-2019 January 5, 2021 - Approval of Stand Alone Facility Clearance	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

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Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, September 02, 2025