We believe that nuclear power is an essential part of the energy mix, providing the world with low carbon, reliable electricity. A vital element of the nuclear fuel supply chain is the responsible management and stewardship of nuclear materials, an area in which Urenco plays a trusted role.
A key part of our commitment to the responsible handling of nuclear materials is overseen by our two wholly-owned subsidiaries; Urenco Nuclear Stewardship (UNS) and Urenco Chemplants (UCP).
Urenco Nuclear Stewardship
Based at our Capenhurst site in the UK. UNS has a leading role in waste management, long term storage and decommissioning services. We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Urenco, having joined the established Urenco group in 2012, which has been a crucial part of the global nuclear industry for over 50 years.
Our workforce has demonstrable experience of providing end-of-lifecycle management solutions for the nuclear industry, developed through many years of decommissioning the UK's nuclear legacies on the Capenhurst nuclear licensed site, and through the ongoing operational waste management for our sister companies, Urenco UK and Urenco ChemPlants.
Our team has specialist management skills and expertise within the nuclear sector in:
Decommissioning and land remediation
Waste management and waste services
Storage of radiological materials
Engineering support
Our business is built on a foundation of strong relationships with our customers, suppliers, regulators and commercial partnerships, allowing innovative solutions for the UK and global nuclear industry.
Urenco ChemPlants (UCP)
Also based at our Capenhurst site, UCP is responsible for the management of the byproduct that is produced during the enrichment process, known as tails. Like UNS, UCP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Urenco, which joined the Urenco group in xx.
The responsible management of tails is crucial to Urenco's commitment to sustainability. Tails are converted to a more stable form which allows long term storage prior to either further enrichment or safe disposal of the residual uranium.
To enable the conversion, Urenco invested in the Tails Management Facility (TMF), which is operated by UCP and commenced operation in 2021.
Urenco and Urenco Chem Plants are very proud of the safety record during the construction of the TMF. More than 7 million hours of safe working were achieved making the TMF one of the safest construction sites in the UK.
Environmental responsibility
We are fully committed to the responsible environmental management of our activities.
We regularly monitor water supplies, air quality and energy emissions (CO2 and direct/indirect energy), as well as carry out environmental impact assessments of all activities. Our activities are also subject to scrutiny by the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency.
You can read more about how Urenco manages sustainability on our governanace and ethics pages