Costain has been awarded a significant contract by Urenco to deliver the front-end engineering design (FEED) for a pioneering nuclear fuel production facility in Cheshire.

The project will mark Europe's first High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) Advanced Fuels Facility, aimed at supporting the future of clean and secure nuclear energy.

The facility, to be built at Urenco's Capenhurst site, will produce HALEU—uranium enriched to contain between 5% and 20% of the fissile isotope U-235. This specialist fuel is critical for powering next-generation reactor technologies such as Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are central to the UK's low-carbon energy ambitions.

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Costain's in-house civil nuclear and engineering team will carry out the multi-disciplinary FEED work, which is expected to be completed by 2027. The design phase will play a key role in shaping Urenco's broader plans for advanced fuel enrichment technologies and production capabilities.

"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," said Sam White, managing director, natural resources at Costain.

"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."