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Urenco plant produces LEU+ in first trial
06 May 2026 Global Urenco UKFollowing positive feedback from a Regulatory Readiness Review and subsequent permission from the regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the production trial was completed on Friday, May 1.
The trial had taken place over the course of five days, achieving samples at 7%, and demonstrates Urenco Capenhurst’s capability to now produce LEU+, which is uranium enriched between 5 to 10% U-235.
Urenco plans to make LEU+ commercially available from the UK in the near future, which will support existing capability from our US site that had been achieved in late 2025. LEU+ could be transported to fabricators from early 2027 to complete the next stage of the fuel cycle.
The UK project has been supported, in part, by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Nuclear Fuel Fund, which is designed to strengthen the UK’s civil nuclear fuel cycle to meet current and future demand.
Head of Advanced Fuels, Commercial for Urenco, Magnus Mori, said:
“Urenco is committed to enriching uranium for the reactors of today and tomorrow.
“This production trial of LEU+ at Capenhurst has provided a successful outcome and demonstrates our commitment to advancing the nuclear industry in the UK and globally.
“We are continuing to focus on implementing other operational measures for LEU+, including transport solutions, as a next step.”
The availability of LEU+ supports several advancements for the nuclear industry:
- LEU+ will support longer operating cycles for the current fleet of light-water reactors, which will reduce their operating and maintenance costs, and supports the deployment of new accident-tolerant fuel designs.
- Many advanced reactor designs which require high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) enriched between 10 to 20%, will be able to utilise LEU+ initially to speed up their deployment timelines.
- LEU+ can also serve as feedstock for producing HALEU, increasing the potential output of future HALEU enrichment facilities.
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About Urenco
Urenco is an international supplier of uranium enrichment services, fuel cycle products and related solutions with sustainability at the core of our business. Operating in a pivotal area of the nuclear fuel supply chain for over 50 years, Urenco understands the importance of energy security and facilitates the reliable delivery of low carbon electricity generation for consumers around the world.
With its head office in London, UK, Urenco’s global presence ensures diversity and security of supply for customers through enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Through our technology and the expertise of our people, the Urenco Group provides safe, cost effective and reliable services, operating within a framework of high environmental, social and governance standards, complementing international safeguards.
Urenco is making a positive contribution to global climate change goals through our core business and we are committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
We are committed to continued investment in the responsible management of nuclear materials; innovation activities with clear sustainability benefits, such as nuclear medicine, industrial efficiency and research; and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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