Urenco’s Capenhurst site in the UK has enriched uranium above 5% U-235, during its first trial run of this new service following positive feedback from a Regulatory Readiness Review and subsequent permission from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).
The trial took place over the course of five days, achieving samples at 7%, demonstrating Capenhurst’s capability to produce LEU+, which is uranium enriched between 5 to 10% U-235.
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.
Urenco plans to make LEU+ commercially available from the UK in the near future, supporting existing capability from its US site that was achieved in December 2025. Urenco says LEU+ could be transported to fabricators from early 2027.
The UK project was supported, in part, by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Nuclear Fuel Fund, which is intended to strengthen the UK’s civil nuclear fuel cycle to meet current and future demand.
“Urenco is committed to enriching uranium for the reactors of today and tomorrow,” said Magnus Mori, Head of Advanced Fuels, Commercial for Urenco. “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.”
Urenco is also planning to establish an Advanced Fuels Facility, at Capenhurst to produce HALEU. This project aims to make the UK the first country in Europe with a commercial-scale HALEU enrichment capability. The facility is targeted to begin commercial operations by 2031. It is expected to produce up to 10 tonnes of HALEU a year initially, with the potential to reach 27 tonnes or more.
The facility will enrich uranium to between 10% and 20% U-235, the level required for the next generation of reactors. The project is supported by a £196m ($265m) grant from the UK Government (as part of a wider £300m HALEU programme), with Urenco providing co-funding for a total investment of approximately £400m.
