Laser enrichment could recover uranium from old waste

Global Laser Enrichment is pursuing a laser-based process to rework uranium-bearing waste stored near Paducah, Kentucky, where thousands of cylinders remain from a closed enrichment facility. The company has a US Department of Energy contract to process material at the site and aims to turn low-grade leftovers into feedstock comparable to freshly mined natural uranium.

Nuclear power provides about 9% of global electricity today, and interest in new reactors is rising in countries including the US and China. Conventional enrichment relies on centrifuges, while laser enrichment uses isotope-specific atomic behavior to target material containing U-235. GLE’s process remains classified, but company executives say it could require fewer units, lower up-front investment and use less energy than centrifuge-based plants.

The Paducah facility could enrich up to 200,000 metric tons of material. GLE is taking the material that’s at least 0.25% U-235 and enriching it to about 0.7%, after which it can enter the uranium supply chain. GLE completed a demonstration pilot in fall 2025, has applied for a US Nuclear Regulatory Commission license, expects final approval in 2027 and plans to begin processing at the plant by 2030.