A Urenco subsidiary received approval last week to run additional centrifuge cascades that effectively double the capacity of its uranium enrichment plant in New Mexico.
Following an inspection earlier this year, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted the Urenco USA Facility (also known as the National Enrichment Facility) permission to begin using two additional sequential enrichment systems. A Urenco spokesman was quoted by the Associated Press as saying the new cascades were being prepared for use Wednesday.
Urenco, which is owned by governments and utilities in Europe, entered the enrichment services market in the U.S. last June when it opened the facility near Eunice, N.M, in the southeast corner of the state. According to the company, the plant at full capacity will be able to produce 5,700 metric tons of seperative work per year (tSW/a). Some 700 people have been employed in the plant’s construction, with 350 workers expected to operate the plant.
Urenco officials also indicated the company is considering expanding the plant, which would require additional regulatory approval.