Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 10, General Matter, a U.S.-based uranium enrichment startup, has secured a lease from the Department of Energy (DOE) to repurpose 100 acres of federal land at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky for a new commercial uranium enrichment facility. The agreement includes access to at least 7,600 cylinders of uranium hexafluoride to support future re-enrichment operations.

The $1.5 billion project is expected to create 140 high-paying, full-time jobs and contribute approximately $71 million annually to the Paducah region’s economy. Construction is slated to begin in 2026, with enrichment operations targeted for 2034. General Matter plans to employ innovative, scalable, and cost-effective technology for the facility.

In October 2024, the DOE selected General Matter among four companies to provide enrichment services for high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which contains 5% to 19.75% uranium-235 and is essential for fueling advanced reactor designs under development. The Paducah site, which conducted uranium enrichment from 1952 to 2013, including commercial operations from 1993 until its closure, offers existing infrastructure and a skilled workforce to support the project.

General Matter CEO Scott Nolan stated: “Seventy-five years ago, the US Atomic Energy Commission selected Paducah to help lead the nation’s original enrichment efforts. We are proud to return to and reactivate this historic site to power a new era of American energy independence, and we thank our partners in Kentucky and at the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management and the Office of Nuclear Energy for supporting us in this landmark investment in American nuclear infrastructure.”

Roger Jarrell, DOE Office of Environmental Management Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, added: “Leveraging the resources of the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, including its skilled nuclear workforce and existing infrastructure, is unlocking private funding and fast-tracking commercial licensing activities. The administration’s commitment to reducing barriers for American energy development is enabling the Office of Environmental Management to transform liabilities into opportunities, unleashing American energy, supporting national security and enabling US innovation and jobs.”

Separately, in November 2024, Global Laser Enrichment acquired adjacent land to develop the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility, utilizing SILEX laser-based technology, with operations planned for 2030. General Matter’s initiative aligns with efforts to enhance domestic energy infrastructure, leveraging Paducah’s legacy to meet modern energy demands sustainably.