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    Urenco UK

    Key facts

    Capenhurst

    Our facility is located in Capenhurst, UK.

    1973

    We began operations in 1973.

    4,500 tSW/a

    Our current production capacity is 4,500 tSW/a.

    Andrew Cottrell

    The facility’s Managing Director is Andrew Cottrell.

    650+

    We employ more than 650 people.

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    Located in Capenhurst, Urenco UK operates three enrichment plants, which enable nuclear power stations around the world to generate electricity. The largest of the three plants, E23, produces more than 80% of the facility’s enrichment capacity.

    History

    Urenco UK is one of Urenco’s first enrichment facilities, along with our enrichment facility in the Netherlands, Urenco Nederland. Since 1973, we have used centrifuge technology designed and deployed by Urenco to enrich uranium. In 1975, Urenco delivered on its first SWU contract from pilot plant production in Urenco UK and Urenco Nederland, and in 1977, our first commercial scale plant at Urenco UK was formally installed.

    Urenco UK has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Urenco Limited since 1993, following a restructuring of the Urenco organisation.

    Advanced Fuels

    We’re facilitating nuclear energy innovation through the development of our Urenco Advanced Fuels facility at our Capenhurst site. This is crucial for global and UK nuclear fuel projects requiring HALEU and LEU+. Thanks to a co-investment of £196m with the UK Government, Urenco can better support the development of SMRs and AMRs.

    Find out more about our facility

    Advanced Fuels image Advanced Fuels image

    Socio-economic impact analysis

    A socioeconomic impact assessment, produced by Oxford Economics, revealed:

    • Capenhurst supported a £547 million contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023. 

    • The site supported 4,575 jobs around the UK, including its 951 employees.

    • For every 10 people employed by Urenco, another 38 jobs were supported elsewhere.

    • It generated enough tax revenues (£130 million) to pay the equivalent annual wages of around 4,000 UK nurses. 

    Learn more

    Supporting our local communities

    As a good corporate citizen, we communicate regularly and transparently with our community stakeholders.

    We also support our local communities through both practical and financial initiatives, with our employees regularly volunteering in Cheshire and the surrounding areas.

    Supporting our local communities image Supporting our local communities image

    Visit us

    We invite you to find out more about our enrichment facilities via our virtual tour.

    Related documents

    General Terms of Purchase

    Download

    Stress Test Report

    Download