Glossary of Nuclear
Power Terms

Gas centrifuge

A uranium enrichment process used to prepare uranium for use in fabricating fuel for nuclear reactors by separating its isotopes (as gases) based on their slight difference in mass. This process uses a large number of interconnected centrifuge machines (rapidly spinning cylinders). Louisiana Energy Services (LES) is an operating, commercial gas centrifuge plant. For additional information on facilities that were licensed but not yet operational, see Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Facility Licensing. The Fact Sheet on Uranium Enrichment provides additional information on the process.