The UK’s Sizewell C has signed contracts with Urenco and Framatome for the provision of enriched uranium services and nuclear fuel fabrication. The 3,200 MWe Sizewell C NPP, being built by EDF Energy, will feature two EPR reactors using replica designs developed during the construction of Hinkley Point C NPP. The project secured a Final Investment Decision in July.
The supply contract with Urenco for enriched uranium services will support the first six years of the power station’s operation, establishing a secure front-end fuel supply. The contract will help to support around 1,000 existing highly skilled jobs at Urenco’s enrichment site at Capenhurst, near Chester. Urenco also operates enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands and the USA.
The long-term fuel fabrication agreement with Framatome is for the first cores and a number of subsequent reloads. The fuel will first be fabricated using the enriched uranium at Framatome’s factory in Romans, France, until its new UK facility is available. The UK factory will create new jobs and reduce reliance on fuel imports. Framatome has previously announced multi-billion pound contracts with Sizewell C, including the delivery of the two nuclear heat production systems.
“These two contracts represent a major moment for Sizewell C and for energy security in the UK – this is about delivering the fuel supply for a project that will power 7% of the UK’s energy needs, said Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, Joint Managing Directors of Sizewell C. “The fuel that will go in our reactors will be low carbon and predominantly sourced from the UK, produced by skilled British workers. We’ve already pledged to deliver 70% of the project’s construction value to UK businesses, and investing in fuel fabrication here in the UK will help us increase that to around 90% across the lifetime of the project. This is what we mean by doing infrastructure differently – and it puts the UK’s energy security and our nuclear supply chain in a much stronger place.”
Boris Schucht, CEO of Urenco, said: “The importance of Sizewell C in the UK’s energy future cannot be underestimated, and Urenco is proud to have been selected as a supplier of choice. This will support the millions in economic contributions we make to the UK every year through the enrichment site we have in Cheshire, one of four such sites we have globally, as well as helping to grow skills in the nuclear industry, create jobs and strengthen supply chains.”
Lionel Gaiffe, Senior Executive Vice President, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome, said: “Framatome is proud to extend its partnership with Sizewell C through this fuel supply contract. We remain deeply committed to helping the country meet its net zero targets and contribute to strengthen security of fuel supply through a diverse and resilient supply chain.”
The Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) welcomed the fuel contracts. NIA CEO Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: “This is excellent news for the UK’s energy security and for the resilience of our domestic nuclear supply chain.… The commitment to develop a new fuel fabrication facility in the UK, alongside continued enrichment work in the North West, is particularly significant. Together, they will create high-quality jobs, build vital resilience into our supply chain, and strengthen our ability to produce the fuel that powers our nuclear fleet here at home.
