The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has ruled in favour of a proposal to develop a private $1.24 billion uranium enrichment facility near Eunice, New Mexico. The proposed gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant would be built in Lea County.
According to environmental and safety reviews, the plant would have minimal impact on the environment and the NRC did not find anything to rule out construction of the facility.
A consortium of several foreign and American energy companies operating under the name of Louisiana Energy Services are hoping to build the plant, the first foreign-owned company to build a uranium enrichment plant in the USA.
The decision on granting a construction licence by the NRC is expected next year and potential congressional measures could accelerate the construction of the proposed plant in the next few months.
