The current domestic infrastructure for enriched uranium in the power production industry is based on a5% maximum enrichment in the uranium -235 isotope. With respect to national security interests,however, all uranium containing less than 20% U-235 is considered low enriched uranium (LEU) and isof much lower security concern than material above 20% enrichment, highly enriched uranium (HEU).A gap in material supply now exists between the 5% and 20% enrichments. This enrichment range is alsoan area of interest for several government and private entities that desire to introduce new reactorconcepts to the market which would use greater than 5% enriched LEU. In the short term, the only way tomeet requests for uranium in this range is through the downblending of HEU excessed from nationaldefense programs. HEU has not been produced in the United States in several decades, and thus acontinued supply of greater than 5% enriched LEU cannot be maintained indefinitely through thedownblending of HEU.This presentation will examine the potential greater than 5% LEU needs of the uranium marketplace,describe the outlook and potential opportunities for this gap area.
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