Cheshire is set to become home to the first advanced nuclear fuel facility in Europe to establish an energy supply chain that is not reliant on Russia.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said it was essential for the UK to build a uranium enrichment plant to "prise Putin's blood-soaked hands-off Europe's energy market".
His comments come as the Government confirmed it was awarding £196 million to Urenco to build a uranium enrichment facility at Capenhurst that will produce high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel by 2031 for export or use domestically.
The Government said it would support 400 highly skilled jobs, power the UK's future nuclear power stations and ensure other countries are not reliant on Russia for advanced nuclear fuel, a market which it currently dominates.
Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:
"Building our own uranium enrichment plant is essential if we want to prise Putin’s blood-soaked hands-off Europe’s energy market. Russia has been the sole provider of this powerful nuclear fuel for too long and this marks the latest step in pushing him out of the energy market entirely. The wider future of British nuclear remains a critical national endeavour – guaranteeing nuclear and energy security and reducing energy bills for Brits.”
Councillor Simon Eardley, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Chester North and Neston, said:
"Global challenges in recent years have caused huge disruption to energy markets. Strengthening and securing our long-term domestic energy security matters to everyone and the nuclear industry has a critical role to play in that. Cheshire has a growing reputation for being at the forefront of science and technology, from Daresbury through to HyNet at Stanlow and also at Capenhurst where the £196 million investment into the Urenco site will recognise this further.
“This resource will be used to build the first high-tech nuclear fuel facility in Europe, producing advanced nuclear fuel to export or use domestically, powering British homes in the next decade and supporting around 400 highly skilled jobs. It will help power the next generation of nuclear reactors, providing both enhanced energy security and help our advance towards a net zero future. Very welcome news!
"The Capenhurst Urenco facility is in the Saughall and Mollington Ward of Cheshire West and Chester Council which I represent and this can bring some challenges. It will be important to ensure that this new development doesn't have an adverse impact on the village and surrounding area, but there are strong and established lines of communication between Urenco and the local councillors so I am sure any concerns that might arise can be fully and properly addressed in due course."
Officials said the fuel was needed to power new advanced modular reactors which they say will be key to meeting ambitions to quadruple the UK's nuclear capacity by 2050, and it would end Russia's position as the only commercial producer of HALEU. The funding is part of the £300 million programme for HALEU announced in January, and Urenco, which is part-owned by the Government, will co-fund the facility.
Under the plans the facility will have the capacity to produce up to 10 tonnes of the fuel per year by 2031, which when fabricated into fuel could contain as much energy as more than one million tonnes of coal, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-first-in-europe-to-invest-in-next-generation-of-nuclear-fuel?deliveryName=DM42553
