The U.S. Enrichment Corporation plans to build a centrifuge test facility in southern Ohio as a precursor to a full-sized new uranium enrichment plant, the company announced yesterday (see GSN, July 23).

At its Portsmouth plant in Piketon, Ohio, USEC plans to build the Lead Cascade facility to test enhancements to centrifuge technologies developed by the U.S. Energy Department, the company said in a press release.  Company officials plan to apply to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in early 2003 for a license for the facility, which will probably open in 2005 with a staff of about 50 people, the company said.

The site was chosen for both cost and scheduling reasons, said USEC President and Chief Executive Officer William Timbers.  At the Portsmouth plant, the company can take advantage of existing buildings to save time and money, he said.

Ohio Governor Robert Taft praised the USEC announcement.

“This will be the first new nuclear facility to begin operations in the United States in over 10 years,” he said (U.S. Enrichment Corporation release, Dec. 4).

U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham also hailed USEC’s decision, saying it would “help ensure long-term, domestic capacity to enrich uranium fuel for our commercial nuclear reactors.”

“USEC and its partners in the nuclear industry continue to take important steps enhancing national energy security with private sector development of advanced American technology,” he said, according to an Energy Department press release.

After successfully demonstrating enhanced centrifuge technology, USEC plans to build a commercial-sized uranium enrichment plant in either Portsmouth or Paducah, Ky., according to the Energy Department (U.S. Energy Department release, Dec. 4).  USEC plans to decide in 2004 where to locate the commercial plant, the company said (USEC release).

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