ASP Isotopes Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPI) announced it has successfully restarted the first 18 stages of its Silicon-28 enrichment facility in Pretoria, South Africa, following nine months of engineering modifications.

The company implemented changes to non-core components including valves, compressors, and piping after identifying operational issues with original equipment manufacturer specifications. The first 18 stages have operated for over three weeks at target enrichment levels.

"While the core enrichment technology has been operating in line with our expectations, many of the non-core components did not operate in line with the specifications provided by the OEM suppliers," said Heino Van-Wyk, Head of Engineering at ASP Isotopes.

ASP Isotopes shipped its first samples of enriched Silicon-28 to a U.S. customer in August 2025, with independent analysis confirming enrichment levels aligned with theoretical calculations. The company has signed three commercial contracts for enriched Silicon-28 with U.S.-based customers requiring the material for quantum computing and semiconductor applications.

The same engineering enhancements implemented in the first 18 stages are expected to be applied to the remaining stages of the facility to enable commercial production. The company expects to begin initial commercial shipments of enriched Silicon-28 in Q3 2026.

Enriched Silicon-28 is used in quantum computing applications where its purity allows qubits to maintain their entangled state for extended periods. The material also demonstrates superior heat conduction and dissipation properties that may improve conventional semiconductor performance.

ASP Isotopes operates isotope enrichment facilities focused on light isotope production using its proprietary Aerodynamic Separation Process and Quantum Enrichment technologies.