Costain has been appointed to undertake the front-end engineering design for Urenco’s high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) advanced fuels facility.
The new facility, to be built at Urenco’s Capenhurst site in Cheshire, will produce the specialist fuel to support the development and deployment of the next generation of nuclear reactors.
HALEU is uranium that has been enriched to have between 5% and 20% of the fissile isotope, U-235. It is needed to fuel the next generation of reactor designs, including advanced modular reactors (AMRs) and small modular reactors (SMRs).
Costain is expected to complete the FEED in 2027, informing Urenco’s plans for its new advanced fuel enrichment technologies and production facility.
The commission follows Costain’s selection by Urenco earlier this year as programme delivery partner for Urenco Capenhurst infrastructure over the next three years.
Sam White, managing director, natural resources at Costain, said: “This incredibly exciting project will establish the UK as the first country in Europe to launch a high-tech advanced nuclear fuels programme, confirming its status as a world leader in the civil nuclear energy market.
“Ensuring the UK’s supply of advanced nuclear fuel will be critical for powering the next generation of reactors, including AMRs and SMRs. These are nuclear technologies that will play an important role as low-carbon sources of electricity to support a secure, resilient and decarbonised energy system in the UK.
“Our expert engineers will work collaboratively with Urenco and the wider supply chain to design a state-of-the-art fuel facility. Constructability will be at the heart of the designs to make this concept a reality.”
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