Uranium miners wary of plan to enrich depleted uranium stockpile

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Mead Gruver

Story Created: Fri May 18, 2012 2:41 PM

Story Updated: Fri May 18, 2012 2:52 PM

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The uranium industry is questioning Energy Secretary Steven Chu's determination that releasing and re-enriching up to 9,200 tons of depleted uranium from a federal stockpile won't undermine uranium prices.

The measure endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is intended to prevent the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant from closing and preserve 1,200 jobs.

The group Uranium Producers of America says three such upcoming releases of federal uranium inventories could undermine uranium prices and cost jobs in their industry.

Under the plan announced Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Energy will provide depleted uranium to Washington state utility Energy Northwest. The uranium will be re-enriched near Paducah, Kentucky, by USEC, Inc.

Secretary Chu has signed a formal determination saying the released uranium won't harm the uranium mining, conversion or enrichment industries.

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