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Urenco on the changing enrichment landscape: ‘new products, new competition’
17 June 2026 GlobalUrenco’s Chief Commercial officer talked of the “quite dramatic” changes that have taken place in the nuclear enrichment landscape on the World Nuclear News podcast.
Laurent Odeh referenced the new enrichment products, known as advanced fuels, that are coming to market – both of which Urenco will produce – to power existing large-scale and prospective smaller-scale reactors.
He said that with this, new competitors had emerged after the UK and US governments chose to support high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) programmes.
“The American government… they’ve provided two awards for HALEU suppliers…healthy competition.
“Competition is good for us as long as it’s fair competition. It forces us to be better.
“So we’re going to watch this space, but when it comes to our [HALEU] programme, it’s on time and we are expected to deliver come 2031.”
Laurent talked of the perfect storm that had led to improvements in the market outlook, including the global need for decarbonisation and energy security and independence, the over reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets and the projected “extreme growth” for electricity demand, especially in the US.
Asked if the fuel cycle would be able to support a tripling of global nuclear capacity by 2050, he referenced Urenco’s major new expansion at its US site of 2.1 million new SWU, and its ability to go further if needed.
He said: “We’ve already announced 4.6 million of additional [SWU] capacity [overall].
“Even doubling nuclear when compared to today will be a significant achievement. If more can be done, great.”
For more, you can listen to the podcast here.
It's available on Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.
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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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