PADUCAH, KY – The U.S. Departmentof Energy’s Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) is completing a two-day Industry Interest Workshop today at the Julian Carroll Convention Center.

The United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) currently leases the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant from DOE to enrich uranium. USEC may return most or all of the plant to DOE and terminate the lease in fiscal 2013 or 2014. If that happens, other private industry may have the opportunity to continue enriching uranium or commercially use buildings, warehouses, machine shops, utilities, and other facilities as they become available.

The workshop is designed to determine the nature of private industry’s interest in the plant. Registration took place through FedBizOpps.gov, targeting business and government entities.

Attendees on Tuesday received an overview and technical information, followed by a plant tour and discussions with DOE officials. Today is set aside for one-on-one discussions between DOE and individual attendees.