Companies are developing laser enrichment technology to reprocess old nuclear waste material, potentially providing a new source of feedstock for nuclear reactors. Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) aims to use this method to extract uranium from waste at a facility in Paducah, Kentucky. This laser-based approach could be more efficient than conventional centrifuge methods, producing material with a concentration similar to naturally mined sources and potentially enabling the creation of fuel for advanced reactors.

Nuclear power's role in global electricity is expected to grow, with countries like the US and China investing in new reactor designs. Cheaper and more accessible fuel production methods are crucial for these projects. While conventional enrichment uses centrifuges to separate uranium isotopes, laser enrichment precisely targets specific uranium isotopes, like U-235, making them easier to isolate. Advances in laser technology and recent geopolitical shifts, including restrictions on Russian uranium imports, are creating opportunities for new enrichment companies.

LIS Technologies, founded in 2023, is establishing a laser enrichment facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with plans to produce enriched uranium for fuel. GLE, meanwhile, is focusing on reprocessing waste material under a contract with the US Department of Energy. They aim to enrich depleted uranium to a concentration that can be re-integrated into the supply chain. GLE has completed a pilot demonstration and is working towards commercial-scale operations, with initial processing expected by 2030.