Uranium enrichment technology company Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) has begun demonstration testing at its test loop facility in Wilmington, North Carolina.

The company said the TRL-6 testing programme of its third-generation technology is expected to be a pivotal validation of large-scale enrichment performance under “operationally relevant conditions”.

TRL-6 refers to testing the technology in a relevant operational environment close to its final intended application.

GLE, which is 49% owned by Canadian uranium company Cameco, expects to generate hundreds of kilogrammes of enriched uranium during the demonstration period.