Urenco has decided to double the expansion of uranium enrichment capacity at its site in Almelo, the Netherlands. As part of the company’s capacity programme, the first stage of expansion at Almelo was announced in December 2023, representing approximately 750,000 separative work units (SWU). Urenco said this is well underway and on schedule to come online from 2027.
A new second stage of expansion will involve the construction of an additional centrifuge hall, representing another approximately 750,000 SWU, which is expected to come online from 2030. In total, the two expansions represent approximately 1.5m SWU of extra capacity at Almelo.
“This latest decision demonstrates Urenco’s ongoing commitment to supporting a robust, reliable, Western nuclear fuel supply chain,” said Ad Louter, Managing Director of Urenco Almelo. “This project is the largest buildout of new enrichment capacity undertaken so far as part of the company’s capacity expansion programme and ensures that we can offer security of supply to global customers, while providing stable and long-term employment opportunities in our region.”
He added: “We are encouraged by the actions of both utilities and governments to support the nuclear industry and the fuel supply chain specifically. We will evaluate other expansions as supported by long-term contracts. Stable government policy is also critical and a positive development in the EU has been the intention to phase out Russian nuclear material through the REPowerEU plan.”
Urenco’s capacity programme continues at its sites in Almelo, Eunice (USA) and Gronau (Germany). An extensive refurbishment of capacity is also taking place at all Urenco sites, including the UK site in Capenhurst. Globally, Urenco has now committed to 2.5m SWU of new enrichment capacity and the first two centrifuge cascades are already online, in Eunice, New Mexico.
