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Uranium oxide storage facility in Germany officially commissioned
06 October 2026 Global Urenco DeutschlandUrenco’s German site has officially commissioned its uranium oxide (U₃O₈) storage facility.
The facility in Gronau forms part of the plant's expansion licence, which was granted in 2005 by the nuclear licensing authority of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
It is a key element of the strategy for managing depleted uranium, the by-product known as tails, which is generated during the uranium enrichment process. Over the coming years, material from Gronau will be transported for further processing both to Pierrelatte in France and to Urenco's facility in Capenhurst, United Kingdom. At these sites, the depleted uranium, which is in uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) form, will be chemically converted into uranium oxide (U₃O₈).
U₃O₈ is considered a particularly suitable form for long-term storage. The material is insoluble in water, non-combustible, chemically highly stable and non-volatile even at elevated temperatures. Following the commissioning of the storage facility, depleted uranium originating from Gronau and converted into U₃O₈ at dedicated facilities in France and the United Kingdom can be returned to Gronau for long-term storage.
The storage building itself was constructed several years ago under the existing licence. With its formal commissioning now complete, all legal and operational requirements for the safe storage of the material have been fulfilled.
Under current legislation, depleted uranium is classified as a potentially reusable material resource. The safety report prepared for the final expansion stage of the enrichment plant in 2002 noted that depleted uranium still contains a significant proportion of the uranium-235 originally present, meaning that potential future uses remain possible. While no specific reuse pathway is currently envisaged, a range of potential utilisation options continues to exist in principle.
Financial provisions are also being maintained for possible future recycling, utilisation or disposal routes. This is intended to ensure that the material can continue to be managed safely and responsibly in the years ahead.
Dr Jörg Harren, Managing Director of Urenco Deutschland GmbH, said:
"With the commissioning of the U₃O₈ storage facility, we are implementing a component of our site strategy that has been planned for many years. Storage is carried out in a form that is regarded as particularly safe and stable according to the current state of science and technology. At the same time, we are preserving depleted uranium responsibly for the future. Although no specific future use is currently planned, potential utilisation options remain available in principle. Our goal is to combine safety, sustainability and long-term thinking."
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About Urenco
Urenco is an international supplier of uranium enrichment services, fuel cycle products and related solutions with sustainability at the core of our business. Operating in a pivotal area of the nuclear fuel supply chain for over 50 years, Urenco understands the importance of energy security and facilitates the reliable delivery of low carbon electricity generation for consumers around the world.
With its head office in London, UK, Urenco’s global presence ensures diversity and security of supply for customers through enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Through our technology and the expertise of our people, the Urenco Group provides safe, cost effective and reliable services, operating within a framework of high environmental, social and governance standards, complementing international safeguards.
Urenco is making a positive contribution to global climate change goals through our core business and we are committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
We are committed to continued investment in the responsible management of nuclear materials; innovation activities with clear sustainability benefits, such as nuclear medicine, industrial efficiency and research; and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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