Left: Aalo Atomics has already signed a supply contract with Urenco and is already exploring 8% enriched LEU+ that will fuel its commercial Aalo Pod design


Policy, production and transport The US Energy Act of 2020 legislated for advanced reactor deployment support and followed by the Department of Energy’s HALEU Availability Program provided momentum to HALEU supply chains by directing funding and allocations to reactor developers. And, among the Executive Orders signed by President Trump in May 2025, the Reactor Pilot Program aims to fast-track commercial licensing for at least three advanced nuclear reactors by early July 2026. Indeed, while multiple regions are expressing interest


in advanced fuels, Urenco points to the North American ecosystem as a key market driver. “I think they’re paving the way,” Alison Poortman, VP, Advanced Fuels, Commercial, North America, says, adding: “There is definitely interest in Europe, Asia and worldwide, but the first entities will likely be US and Canada focused. Europe, so far, appears to be more of a smart follower than a trailblazer.” However, the cornerstone of Urenco’s push into the higher enrichment market is its investment in a new HALEU facility in the UK at its Capenhurst site in Cheshire. The facility is being engineered to enrich uranium up to 20% ²³⁵U, using gas centrifuge technology based on existing Urenco designs but with modifications for higher criticality margins and dedicated auxiliary systems. “Our first facility will be in the UK, at Capenhurst with enrichment up to 20%. We’ve started work on that project. Depth and ground-clearing and environmental studies are underway and production will begin in 2031,” notes Mori. Costain has been named as the programme delivery


partner by Urenco for an integrated programme of infrastructure investment, including developing the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the works and upgrades needed at Capenhurst. Although based on established centrifuge technology, the HALEU plant is not simply a matter of adjusting setpoints on existing machines. Higher-assay material changes the criticality landscape and drives the need for new containment, instrumentation, transport pathways, waste management, analytical laboratories, and maintenance regimes.


As Mori notes: “Because of the higher enrichment, the


criticality safety is something that needs to be readdressed and all the auxiliary systems also need to be dedicated to HALEU. The whole thing is a standalone unit within the boundary [of the existing Capenhurst facility].” With new production solutions underway, transport


is currently one of the most significant constraints in the HALEU ecosystem. The legacy 30B transport cylinder


and associated licensing framework were not developed for 20% enriched material. Urenco has partnered with Orano to address this with two new cylinder designs, the 30B10 for enrichments up to 10% and the 30BX / DN30X for enrichments up to 20% “The 30BX is already NRC approved. The 30B10 is in ANSI approval status. Once it’s ANSI approved, we can work with the DOT and get that DOT authorised,” says Poortman. Transport approvals must then also be sought in the UK


to allow export of HALEU produced at Capenhurst. Indeed, transport remains a potential bottleneck


internationally. While HALEU supply is rapidly becoming policy priority in the US, export licensing in Europe remains comparatively slower. This is an area that will require time for alignment, although Urenco stresses it is working in close cooperation with regulators.


Aligning with technology vendors Despite many ambitious projections, a great deal of uncertainty remains regarding how many advanced and small modular reactors will be deployed, when they will reach criticality, and which will proceed to commercial operation. Industry expectations have shifted repeatedly over the past decade, and supply chain companies must now balance readiness against exposure. Urenco acknowledges this dynamic but already has pragmatic choices should development timelines slip given the HALEU facility can technically produce LEU+ or LEU simply by adjusting machine parameters and feedstock. This provides flexibility in the event of a slower-than-expected HALEU ramp-up. “We can optimise the plant and be able to produce any level of LEU+ that we need to. If there aren’t reactor designs ready to take commercial quantities of fuel in 2031 we can make LEU or LEU+. We can store material. And we’ll also see where the rest of the supply chain is,” explains Mori, adding: “Even if, let’s say, there’s a two-year delay or a three-year delay, they will also need working inventory, they will need to feed every single stack of the supply chain so I don’t think that 2031 is necessarily too optimistic or too early.” Urenco also emphasises modular construction in enrichment capacity. “The way we build everything is modular, so we can add on as needed to be able to support it. If we get demand for the market, we can double that volume,” adds Poortman. And, while large-scale demand remains prospective,


Urenco is already engaging in early commercial contracts aligned with the DOE’s initial HALEU allocations to reactor


www.neimagazine.com | December 2025 | 23


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