SILEX Nuclear Related Topics

[Moosey]

This is the first time I have seen this in print although it was always something that I suspected, "
The ability of the SILEX technology to efficiently address various grades of enriched nuclear
fuel in small to large quantities is a key differentiator between the third generation SILEX laser-
based uranium enrichment technology and competing second generation centrifuge
technology. "
And if they already know this? then they must be close to completion of the commercial pilot at Wilmington?
If this goes ahead then the SP will rise by a lot, aded to this the Zero spin Silicon stuff and also royalties from IQE and they will be a big company with 25% ownership of GLE after they sell 24% of their GLE holdings to Cameco who will then own 75% and the best part is we (SLX) will still get all of the royalties ourselves which they say will be between 7% and 12% of the gross product before costs, Michael Goldsworthy has said he believed it would be on the higher side, my thinking is at least 10%?
It will be based on the economics of the GLE program and it's effieciencies compared to centrifuge technology, which they say it will be between a factor of 2 to 20 times better than older centrifuge technology, I am thinking around 10 times at least? IMAGINE that?
Why would the US DOE pass up that opportunity?

And because the cost will be so low they can get more enriched Uranium from the same given amount of mined Uranium, than the centrifuge enrichers, is this something that Cameco have come to the same conclusion to by lowering the overall output of their mines?

They won't need as much and can basically improve their amount of mined Uranium in the ground by being able to get more from the same tonnage than other Uranium suppliers?

I reckon we are on our way now!

Here is today's announcement

https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20220215/pdf/455zhl7rx46vlf.pdf

Silex Systems Limited | ABN 69 003 372 067
LHSTC, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights NSW 2234
Telephone: +61 2 9704 8888 | Facsimile: +61 2 9704 8851 | Website: www.silex.com.au
GLE Submits Response to US DOE Request for
Information on HALEU Availability Program
15 February 2022


Silex Systems Limited (Silex) (ASX: SLX; OTCQX: SILXY) announced today the submission
of a written response by Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) to the US Department of Energy
(DOE) regarding its Request for Information (RFI) for the proposed HALEU Availability
Program.
GLE is the exclusive licensee of the SILEX technology for uranium enrichment, which is in
principle capable of producing different grades of nuclear fuels, including High Assay Low
Enriched Uranium (HALEU) required for next-generation advanced and small modular
reactors. GLE is a 51% / 49% jointly-controlled, joint venture between Silex and global uranium
and nuclear fuel provider Cameco Corporation.

The RFI for the HALEU Availability Program was posted in the Federal Register in December
2021, in response to growing concerns regarding the HALEU fuel supply chain needed to
support the development and commercial deployment of advanced reactors in the US and
around the world. There is currently no source of readily available HALEU fuel, apart from
limited supplies from Russia. The HALEU RFI specifically addresses the lack of US domestic
HALEU production capacity, which is regarded as an obstacle to the development and
deployment of advanced reactors for commercial applications in the US.

The information gathered in response to the RFI will be considered by the DOE in planning for
the HALEU Availability Program, which may then lead to the issuance of a Request for
Proposals (RFP). Under the Energy Act of 2020, the DOE is directed to establish a HALEU
consortium to partner the DOE to support the availability of HALEU for commercial use.

The ability of the SILEX technology to efficiently address various grades of enriched nuclear
fuel in small to large quantities is a key differentiator between the third generation SILEX laser-
based uranium enrichment technology and competing second generation centrifuge
technology.
LEU is uranium enriched up to 5% (in the uranium-235 isotope). LEU+, with
enriched uranium between 5% and 10%, is a newer grade of fuel currently being considered
by various nuclear utilities around the world for improved economic performance of
conventional nuclear power reactors. HALEU is an entirely new grade of fuel with enrichment
up to 20%, being developed for next-generation advanced and small modular reactors which
are expected to enter the market commercially from the early 2030’s.


Through its exclusive license of the SILEX uranium enrichment technology, GLE intends to
assess the business case for all of these potential applications, in addition to the Paducah tails
enrichment opportunity which would produce natural grade uranium from depleted tails
inventories under a 2016 agreement between GLE and the US DOE.

Authorised for release by the Silex Board of Directors.
Further information on the Company’s activities can be found on the Silex website:
www.silex.com.au or by contacting:
Michael Goldsworthy Julie Ducie
CEO/Managing Director CFO/Company Secretary
T +61 2 9704 8888 T +61 2 9704 8888
E investor.relations@silex.com.au E investor.relations@silex.com.au

 

[brainsnap]

Thanks for that. Should we assume that the submission is "commercial in confidence" and that we will not see the detail?

 

[Moosey]

Thanks for that. Should we assume that the submission is "commercial in confidence" and that we will not see the detail?

Perhaps you may not get to see the detail of the submission because some of it has not ever been disclosed for security reasons, but if the DOE were to use GLE to help supply some of their needs in short supply then you would have to be told at least some of it, one would have to think?
If the DOE on the other hand liked what GLE can do for the enrichment of UNF then that would also be huge, as we would have that market pretty much to ourselves wrt to enrichment or removal of nuclear poisons, which would effectively be similar to an enrichment.
Silex was initially licensed by GEH just for that purpose, but seeing as how the Plutonium and Uranium are never to be separated out now, GEH gave that idea away, basically what this new method uses means that GLE would have this area ALL to themselves? because it would be much easier to shield the Silex process than a centrifuge one and the shielding required for this was already purchased some years back from a US based company just for that purpose when GEH were going to do it, but they were going down the separation path, this new method does not separate out the plutonium, instead they will leave it together with the Uranium and just separate out the unwanted Isotopes, but Plutonium is not the highest radioactive component anyway, the nuclear poisons are, but because the laser process can discriminate one particular isotope alone makes it the perfect choice I believe? and there is a hell of a lot of UNF to be re-processed.

 

[Moosey]

Perhaps you may not get to see the detail of the submission because some of it has not ever been disclosed for security reasons, but if the DOE were to use GLE to help supply some of their needs in short supply then you would have to be told at least some of it, one would have to think?
If the DOE on the other hand liked what GLE can do for the enrichment of UNF then that would also be huge, as we would have that market pretty much to ourselves wrt to enrichment or removal of nuclear poisons, which would effectively be similar to an enrichment.
Silex was initially licensed by GEH just for that purpose, but seeing as how the Plutonium and Uranium are never to be separated out now, GEH gave that idea away, basically what this new method uses means that GLE would have this area ALL to themselves? because it would be much easier to shield the Silex process than a centrifuge one and the shielding required for this was already purchased some years back from a US based company just for that purpose when GEH were going to do it, but they were going down the separation path, this new method does not separate out the plutonium, instead they will leave it together with the Uranium and just separate out the unwanted Isotopes, but Plutonium is not the highest radioactive component anyway, the nuclear poisons are, but because the laser process can discriminate one particular isotope alone makes it the perfect choice I believe? and there is a hell of a lot of UNF to be re-processed.

 

[Moosey]

Zog said this over on HC “The ability for LIS "to efficiently address various grades of enriched nuclear fuel in small to large quantities" is simply a characteristic of LIS and getting at one of the well known deficiencies of centrifuge which is that the whole cascade is designed and built to operate a a designed throughput and that through put cannot be changed (if you attempt to remove centrifuges from the cascade they will be destroyed by resonances - this is NOT new)”

That is not strictly correct, they “can” spin down the centrifuges, take out what they want for a different enrichment value and then spin the centrifuges up again, but during the spin down and up cycles is when the centrifuges are at most danger of being damaged or even destroyed, so presumably they would have a dedicated enrichment value for one plant only, and they will just keep running them for that particular level of enrichment IMHO?

Imagine the cost of building lots of dedicated plants using centrifuge technology which is almost three times dearer to build for the same production level as Laser technology, each one for a different enrichment values required and it looks like they may need a number of different enrichment values for different uses?

Would the Centrifuge people even be interested in supplying all commercial grades of enrichment like GLE could?

This is where the Silex technology excels.

It can do this a lot easier than centrifuge technology can and with only one plant that is reconfigured for each require grade perhaps?

I can see another plant following the PLEF IMHO and not necessarily in the US?

Stockness Monster!

Higher enrichment opportunities

➢ Potential to complement PLEF uranium

production with LEU, HALEU production

➢ HALEU would involve “less capital to deploy meaningful capacity”

But first they would need a supply of natural grade Uranium, @ UF6

HALEU worth between US$8000-US$10,000 per KG so it would be a premium product.

➢ Deploy separately or add-on to PLEF

➢ Partnership opportunities with SMR/AMR vendors



What will come first? Tails enrichment to natural grade and maybe a HALEU plant attached before LEU production, some of the laser enrichment could be repurposed maybe for each grade?

Welcome to Global Laser Enrichment

GLE is the exclusive worldwide licensee of the highly efficient SILEX uranium enrichment process, invented by Silex Systems, GLE’s 51% owner.

www.gle-us.com

Technology

Today’s fleet of nuclear power plants have uranium enrichment requirements that vary by plant size and design. The diversity of fuel designs and levels of enrichment is increasing with the advent of new nuclear reactor technologies lead by small modular and advanced reactors.

“Having the flexibility to address a broad spectrum of enrichment needs is important to the future growth and diversity of both the domestic and global nuclear fuel supply chains.”

Uranium Enrichment

Uranium is a naturally occurring element found in deposits around the world. This element is the primary fuel for nuclear power plants that produce a substantial share of the world’s clean energy. Natural uranium is dominated by two isotopes, U-235 (~0.7%) and U-238 (~99.3%), and it is the scarce U-235 isotope that undergoes splitting (or “fission”) to produce energy in a nuclear reactor. In order to increase the concentration of the fissile isotopes and make the material more useful for nuclear fuel, uranium typically undergoes a process of concentrating (or “enriching”) the U-235 isotope to approximately 5% or greater. Uranium enrichment is a technically difficult process and traditionally accounts for around 30% of the cost of nuclear fuel and approximately 5% of the total cost of the electricity generated by nuclear power.

Historically, uranium has been enriched via the first-generation gaseous diffusion process (now obsolete) or using second-generation gas centrifuge technology, both of which rely on subtle molecular weight differences to separate the uranium isotopes and are relatively inefficient.

Uranium Enrichment Using Lasers

Uranium can also be enriched by separating the isotopes with lasers. Lasers produce precise wavelengths of light, which can then be used to increase the energy of atomic or molecular species consisting of a specific isotope (“laser excitation”), changing their properties and allowing them to be separated. In the case of uranium, the U-235 isotopes are selectively excited and harvested separately from the more common U-238 isotopes, resulting in an increased concentration of U-235 over the initial uranium feedstock. The enriched product can then be used to produce fuel for generating nuclear energy, including for new reactor types that require higher enrichment levels.

SILEX and GLE

The Separation of Isotopes by Laser EXcitation (SILEX) process is a unique laser-based uranium enrichment process that has the potential to economically separate enrich uranium isotopes through highly selective laser excitation of the fluorinated form of uranium – the 235UF6 isotopic molecule. The SILEX process is substantially more efficient than existing methods of uranium enrichment and is the only third-generation enrichment technology at an advanced stage of commercialization today.
There are other Isotopes besides Uranium that this technology cab be used for and they will be exclusively for Silex themselves to enrich, GLE will not participate in that (Zero Spin Silicon is one and maybe medical Isotopes as well in the future? and there may be more? REE comes to mind)


Since 2006, GLE has held the exclusive global rights to commercialize the SILEX technology for the purpose of uranium enrichment, and has been advancing the SILEX process in collaboration with Silex Systems at GLE’s Wilmington, North Carolina Test Loop facility, and at Silex’s facility in Sydney, Australia. As part of its commercialization efforts, GLE plans to integrate the its technology in the Test Loop facility with a balance-of-plant-infrastructure that is shared by existing commercial Uranium conversion and enrichment facilities. The result is expected to be a compelling and flexible new source of cost-effective, US-based laser enrichment capability which can supply natural grade uranium and enriched uranium to fuel the requirements of existing and emerging nuclear plant designs.

Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility

In November of 2016, the US Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE EM) and GLE signed a long-term agreement for the purchase and sale of a significant portion of DOE’s depleted uranium “tails” inventory to GLE.

Under the agreement, GLE has proposed to construct and operate a laser enrichment facility adjacent to DOE’s shuttered Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) that would re-enrich over 200,000MtU of DOE tails to equivalent natural grade uranium hexafluoride (nUF6) product for sale in the commercial market. We refer to this proposed facility as the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility, or PLEF.

So they will get Uranium 235, the same as mined Uranium and it has already be converted to UF6 so it is worth more.

The PLEF is an example of GLE’s ability to provide synergistic benefits to the nuclear industry and modernize the US nuclear fuel supply chain. Not only will the output of the PLEF (nUF6) provide clean, emissions-free fuel for nuclear power plants, but it will also reduce the legacy environmental footprint of the PGDP.

The PLEF is envisioned to produce up to 2,000MtU as natural grade UF6 annually (approximately 5 million pounds U3O8 equivalent). A decision to proceed to construction is subject to favorable uranium market conditions and other factors.

Commercial HALEU

In 2020 the DOE announced funding under its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) program to help support the development and deployment of small modular and advanced reactors. This initiative is one of several positive developments in the advancement of new, smaller nuclear reactor designs.

Many advanced reactors designs require higher levels of uranium enrichment than are currently used in the existing fleet of nuclear power plants. The name for this higher level of enrichment is commonly referred to as High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium, or HALEU.

HALEU will help unlock the potential growth and deployment of smaller reactors. GLE is engaged with the DOE and several advanced reactor vendors to explore the potential for GLE to provide a US-based source of HALEU to fuel the next generation of nuclear reactors.

LEU/LEU+

Fuel demands from the existing global fleet of large light water reactors is projected to continue to increase over the next decade.

GLE’s successful deployment of the SILEX uranium enrichment technology “would allow” GLE to participate in the global market for the supply of traditional enrichments (3% – 5%) and those required for accident tolerant and longer cycle-length fuel designs in the 5% – 10% range.

Sounds to me like the PLEF and HALEU production will come first and then LEU, maybe funding for HALEU would help them get started, sounds like that to me anyway?

 

[Moosey]

US DOE launches nuclear, hydrogen infrastructure programmes

Days after it launched a USD6 billion programme to support the continued operation of existing nuclear power plants, the Department of Energy has set in motion its programme to invest USD9.5 billion in clean hydrogen technologies which may include the use of nuclear power.;

www.world-nuclear-news.org

US DOE launches nuclear, hydrogen infrastructure programmes​

16 February 2022

Share
Days after it launched a USD6 billion programme to support the continued operation of existing nuclear power plants, the Department of Energy (DOE) has set in motion its programme to invest USD9.5 billion in clean hydrogen technologies which may include the use of nuclear power. Both initiatives are part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

President Biden pictured delivering remarks ahead of his signature of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021 (Image: Erin Scott/White House)
The law - its full title is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - sets out a USD1.2 trillion package as part of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda, including more than USD62 billion for the DOE to deliver an equitable clean energy future, including supporting the continued operation of nuclear power plants which currently provide more than half of the USA's clean electricity.

"US nuclear power plants are essential to achieving President Biden's climate goals and DOE is committed to keeping 100% clean electricity flowing and preventing premature closures," Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said.

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes this all possible by allowing us to leverage our existing clean energy infrastructure, strengthen our energy security and protect US jobs."

The USD6 billion Nuclear Credit Program will allocate credits to reactors which are "certified" to say they are projected to cease operations due to economic factors, that cessation of operations would result in a projected increase in air pollutants, and that there is reasonable regulatory assurance that the reactor will continue to operate safely.

Credits will be allocated to selected certified reactors over a four-year period and can be awarded up until the end of September 2031, if funds remain available.

A Notice of Intent (NOI) and Request for Information (RFI) on the implementation of the USD6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Program was announced on 11 February and published in the Federal Register on 15 February. The NOI allows potential applicants to submit voluntary, nonbinding expressions of interest in the programme, while the RFI seeks input from stakeholders on its proposed approach. A deadline of 17 March has been set for general responses, with responses specifically on certification to be sent by 8 March.

Hydrogen Shot​

The department has also announced two RFIs to inform hydrogen programmes under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with USD8 billion earmarked for regional "clean hydrogen hubs" to expand the use of hydrogen in the industrial sector and beyond; USD1 billion for a Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program to reduce costs of hydrogen produced from clean electricity; and USD500 million to support hydrogen manufacturing and recycling initiatives.

Most of the USA's current production of hydrogen - about 10 million tonnes per year, compared with global production of some 90 million tonnes - is from natural gas through steam methane reforming, DOE said. Electrolysis technology, which uses electricity to produce hydrogen from water, "could allow for the production of hydrogen using clean electricity from renewable energy including solar, wind, and nuclear power," it said.

The RFIs will help accelerate progress, reduce technology cost, and ramp up the use of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, DOE said, and will also provide feedback to support its Hydrogen Shot effort to cut to cost of clean hydrogen to USD1 per 1 kilogram in one decade.

Responses to the Hydrogen Hubs Implementation Strategy RFI are due by 8 March and to the Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing, Recycling and Electrolysis RFI by 29 March.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

[Moosey]

Nuclear energy is ‘on Australia’s technology roadmap’

Resources Minister Keith Pitt says nuclear energy is "on Australia's technology roadmap" but would require agreement from both major parties. "It is good to see that the French are starting to invest in more nuclear technology and nuclear generation for electricity," he told Sky News host...

www.skynews.com.au

Nuclear energy is ‘on Australia’s technology roadmap’
February 15, 2022 - 8:05PM

Resources Minister Keith Pitt says nuclear energy is “on Australia’s technology roadmap” but would require agreement from both major parties.
“It is good to see that the French are starting to invest in more nuclear technology and nuclear generation for electricity,” he told Sky News host Chris Kenny.
“For Australia’s part … it is on our technology roadmap, we’ve got a watching brief on small modular reactors, we’ve signed an agreement around technology sharing with the United Kingdom and we’ll continue to keep a close eye on it.
“But in this country you would need agreement between both of the major parties including Labor and they’ve ruled it out.”
If the Labor Party ever considered nuclear? then maybe I could vote for them again!
I used to vote for Labor once, I thought they represented the working man, but I came to the conclusion in the end that they represented those that really don't want to work, any squeaky group who wanted their way on just about anything were the ones they seemed to be working for?
It's a pity both parties can't seem to agree on anything now, if one party says something it immediately becomes a no no for the other party, can't they ever agree on some things for the good of the nation? seems not.

Sorry for the politics!

 

[Moosey]

​

GLE are looking for a Resource manager, The Human Resources Manager will be responsible for Human Resources policies, programs and services, including legal compliance, employee remuneration and benefits, employee relations, employment practices and procedures, employee communications, talent development, and recruiting.​

To my way of thinking? they would only do that is they were about to employ a good many people surely?

Seems to me things are about to happen soon?

​

​

Human Resources Manager​

Global Laser Enrichment • Castle Hayne, NC 28429​

Create an account or Login to see how closely you match to this job!
Yesterday
DoE Q or L
On-Site/Office
Mid Level Career (5+ yrs experience)
Unspecified
No Traveling
Unspecified
Business - HR
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this position will be responsible for the development, maintenance and execution of a strategic Human Resources Plan for the Company. A core deliverable of this position will be to assist the CEO to instill a collaborative and results driven culture that emphasizes high performance, continuous improvement and high performance. The Human Resources Manager will be responsible for Human Resources policies, programs and services, including legal compliance, employee remuneration and benefits, employee relations, employment practices and procedures, employee communications, talent development, and recruiting.

Human Resources Management:
• Instill a collaborative and results driven culture that emphasizes high performance, continuous improvement, and innovation.
• Develops, maintains, and administers a comprehensive system of performance monitoring, including establishment of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with the CEO for all staff and measurement of performance against those KPIs.
• Develops and maintains the Company’s strategic Human Resources Plan.
• Ensures correctness of remuneration and benefits and monthly payroll processing.
• Assist the CEO with the administering of the Company’s incentive plans.
• Maintains optimal level of staff at all times and coordinates hiring and termination of employees and contractors.
• Develops and maintains a full system of practical Human Resources procedures.
• Develops and maintains a pay scale system for all staff.
• Coordinates annual performance reviews for all staff.
• Coordinates annual review of remuneration for all staff.
• Monitors remuneration spending against budget(s) and all other Human Resources-related costs.
Manage the recruitment of human resources:
• Prepare Position Descriptions and advertisements for new positions.
• Engagement of recruitment firms, if applicable.
• Select a short-list of candidates for interview in conjunction with the relevant manager.
• Manage candidate interview process.
• Administer documentation for new hires.
• Manage induction and orientation programs for new employees.
Human resource services:
• Maintain current Position Descriptions for all employees.
• Lead conflict resolution and maintain a constructive working relationship with employees at all levels of the Company.
• Manage performance appraisals and performance management.
• Coordinate leave forms for payroll and maintenance of Company leave records.
• Oversee the employee benefits program including health insurance and 401(k).
• Liaise with the Company’s legal counsel on HR and EHS matters as required.
Oversees the termination process of staff:
• Advise Management on disciplining and termination procedures.
• Oversee exit interviews.
• Support exit process.

Qualifications and experience
• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field from a four-year college or university.
• Specialized degree in Human Resources/Administration and/or professional certification is preferred.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a Human Resources Management position.
• Existing NRC/DOE Q-clearance (or equivalent) and experience operating in a classified work environment would be a distinct advantage.
GROUP ID: 91018035
N


Name Hidden

 

[Moosey]

Sat, 19 February 2022, 9:51 am


SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, February 18, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cameco (TSX: CCO; NYSE: CCJ) will issue its first quarter results before markets open on Thursday, May 5, 2022.
Cameco invites investors and the media to join its first quarter conference call with the company's senior executives on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern.
Cameco will discuss trends in the market and the execution of its strategy before opening the call to questions from investors and the media.
To join the call, please dial 800-319-4610 (Canada and US toll-free) or 604-638-5340. An operator will put your call through. The slides and a live webcast of the conference call will be available from a link at cameco.com.
A recorded version of the proceedings will be available on our website shortly after the call, and on post view until midnight, Eastern, June 5, 2022, by calling 800-319-6413 (Canada and US toll-free) or 604-638-9010 (Passcode 8606).
Profile
Cameco is one of the largest global providers of the uranium fuel needed to energize a clean-air world. Our competitive position is based on our controlling ownership of the world’s largest high-grade reserves and low-cost operations. Utilities around the world rely on our nuclear fuel products to generate power in safe, reliable, carbon-free nuclear reactors. Our shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. Our head office is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220218005526/en/
Contacts
Investor inquiries:
Rachelle Girard
306-956-6403
rachelle_girard@cameco.com
Media inquiries:
Jeff Hryhoriw
306-385-5221
jeff_hryhoriw@cameco.com