5 Apr (NucNet): The US enrichment corporation USEC has completed construction of its American Centrifuge commercial demonstration cascade, designed to confirm the technical readiness of the next-generation US uranium enrichment technology.
The 120-machine cascade is the centrepiece of a 350 million US dollar (about 273 million euro) cooperative RD&D programme with the US Department of Energy. The programme is intended to “reduce technical risks and improve the future prospects” of commercial deployment of the American Centrifuge gas centrifuge enrichment technology.
USEC said the programme is within budget and on schedule to be completed in December 2013.
Since 2002, USEC has been developing and demonstrating the American Centrifuge uranium enrichment gas centrifuge technology. USEC wants to commercially deploy the technology to produce low-enriched uranium, a key component for the fabrication of commercial nuclear fuel.
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