Current Issues: Operating Uranium Conversion/Enrichment and Nuclear Fuel Plants - Europe
(last updated 27 Nov 2024)
Contents:
> See also Current Issues for
> See also:
Areva announces closure of FBFC Dessel nuclear fuel plant
On Oct. 25, 2011, the entreprise FBFC (Franco-Belge de Fabrication du Combustible) announced its intention to close its Dessel plant due to a decrease of demand in Western Europe and an over-capacity on the market. The plant currently has 180 employees. Most of the activities will be stopped by March 2012. Only the MOX department with some auxiliary services will be maintained until 2015.
(RTBF Oct. 25, 2011)
Rumors growing that Areva plans closure of FBFC Dessel nuclear fuel plant
According to the Internet site L'Expansion, Areva plans to close the FBFC nuclear fuel plant in Dessel as part of a massive restructuring program that is to be set up in reaction to a drop in demand caused by the German nuclear phase-out and the Fukushima disaster.
(Le Monde Oct. 18, 2011)
> See extra page
Map: Google Maps 
> See also: DU exports of Urenco's Almelo enrichment facility · DU exports of Urenco's Gronau enrichment facility to the Netherlands
> See also: Depleted uranium storage at COVRA radioactive waste facility (The Netherlands)
Comment invited on new storage facility for radioactive waste at Urenco Almelo enrichment plant
Dutch regulator ANVS plans to grant Urenco a permit for a new storage facility for radioactive waste. Anyone can respond to the draft permit until April 12, 2024.
> View ANVS release Mar. 1, 2024 (in Dutch)
> Access related documents (in Dutch)
Dutch regulator issues transport license for import of enriched UF6 from Russia
On Feb. 13, 2024, Dutch regulator ANVS issed a license for the transport of 24 cylinders of enriched uranium hexafluoride from the Seversk conversion/enrichment plant in Russia for further enrichment at Urenco Almelo.
> Download: Vervoersvergunning ANVS-PP-2023/0100827, Transrad NV/SA , Feb. 13, 2024 (ANVS - in Dutch)
Enriched UF6 from Urenco Almelo arrives in unsecured overpack at Framatome Romans plant (France)
> View here
Barrel explodes at Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant
Urenco has reported that a barrel of radioactively contaminated coal has exploded. This happened when the barrels were driven into the storage hall. Pressure built up in the barrel due to self-ignition, causing the lid to jump off the barrel. Then coal was also released and smoke was generated. This event did not affect the surrounding area. Urenco cleaned up the coal that had fallen from the vessel.
(ANVS Dec. 7, 2023)
Urenco starts construction to increase capacity of Almelo centrifuge enrichment plant by 15%:
The first shovel will be broken on Monday (Mar. 25) for the construction of an eighth hall, which will allow the production of enriched uranium in Almelo to be increased by 15 percent.
(NL Times Mar. 23, 2024)
Urenco announces plan to increase capacity of Almelo centrifuge enrichment plant by 15%:
Urenco has approved an investment to expand enrichment capacity at its site in the Netherlands.
The project will see multiple new centrifuge cascades added to an existing plant in Almelo.
This expansion will provide an additional capacity of around 750 tonnes of SWU [0.75 million SWU] per year, a 15 per cent increase at Urenco Nederland (known as UNL), with the first new cascades coming online around 2027.
(Urenco Dec. 14, 2023)
Solar panel installation at Urenco's Almelo uranium enrichment plant
With the installation of 7452 solar panels on the roof of a cylinder storage facility at Urenco Nederland, we are driving forward our net zero strategy. The installation covers 60,000 m2 and the first panels are now connected to the grid in Almelo, the Netherlands.
Another 1400 panels will be installed in the Urenco Nederland car park this summer. All these panels will generate more than 3 MWh of electricity - at peak times the solar power generated will equal 15% of Urenco's energy consumption in the Netherlands.
(Urenco Mar. 24, 2023)
Draft permit amendment for Urenco's Almelo uranium enrichment plant open for comment
On June 30, 2022, Urenco applied for a permit amendment.
One of the amendments to the revision permit relates to the storage of enriched uranium. Urenco wants to be able to store this uranium in a building where until now only non-enriched uranium may be stored. If it is allowed, this will help Urenco to reduce the amount of radiation that the staff has to deal with. It also helps Urenco to simplify their work processes.
Another important change is the renewal of Urenco's safety report. The results of the 10-year safety evaluation from 2017 are now being incorporated. For example, the safety analyzes have been carried out again according to the latest standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Urenco must perform this safety evaluation every 10 years to check whether the installation and organization are safe. This obligation is stated in the permit issued to Urenco by the ANVS [Radiation Protection Authority].
Read and comment until April 26, 2023 (!).
> View: ANVS announcement Mar. 15, 2023 (in Dutch)
Netherlands extend requirement to provide financial guarantee for decommissioning to Urenco's Almelo uranium enrichment plant
[...] nuclear energy regulations are being amended so that uranium enricher Urenco, like a nuclear power plant, must have a government-approved financial guarantee for its future decommissioning costs. At present, such approval is only required for nuclear reactors and COVRA. The adjustment follows from the debacle surrounding the financing of the demolition of the Dodewaard nuclear power plant. [...]
Public participation in the amendment will run until July 14.
(Laka June 16, 2022)
> Download: Ontwerpbesluit tot wijziging van het Besluit kerninstallaties, splijtstoffen en ertsen in verband met de aanwijzing van de nucleaire inrichting van URENCO NEDERLAND B.V. TE ALMELO overeenkomstig artikel 15f, achtste lid, van de Kernenergiewet , June 14, 2022 (in Dutch)
Violation of criticality rules at Urenco Almelo uranium enrichment plant
On September 10, 2021, URENCO reported to the [Radiation Protection Authority] ANVS that a higher degree of uranium enrichment than permitted was measured in the water in a storage tank of the wastewater treatment plant on August 12, 2021. The enrichment rate has remained below the safe limit. ANVS has assessed the handling of this event and has rated this event as INES level 0: a minor deviation.
(ANVS June 28, 2022 - in Dutch)
Small release of uranium hexafluoride at Urenco Almelo uranium enrichment plant
The [Radiation Protection Authority] ANVS received the notification from Urenco Nederland B.V. on August 31, 2021, that a quantity of the radioactive substance uranium hexafluoride and reaction products were released in a process room on 9 August 2021 (this is within the specified reporting period).
Reaction products are compounds that are formed, in this case mainly hydrogen fluoride. These substances are discharged from the process space via an automatic measuring system to the outside air via the extraction. The ANVS has established that the amount of substances released into the open air remained far below the annual limit licensed to Urenco. [...]
Urenco's investigation shows that a small amount of uranium hexafluoride and reaction products have been released in a process room due to a higher pressure than normal. When the radioactive materials were released, two operators inhaled a very small amount. This remained below the daily dose to which an employee may be exposed. [...]
This event is classified as INES level 0 [...].
(ANVS May 27, 2022 - in Dutch)
Overfilling of uranium hexafluoride cylinder at Urenco Almelo uranium enrichment plant
The [Radiation Protection Authority] ANVS has received a report that on May 16, 2021, a cylinder in a filling station was filled with more uranium hexafluoride than allowed under the procedure. [...]
Urenco's investigation shows that the cause of the event was a defect in the weight measurement of the filling station. [...] This event is classified as INES level 0 [...].
(ANVS May 27, 2022 - in Dutch)
In view of Ukraine invasion, Urenco terminates delivery contract with Russia
> See here
Thermal plug discovered missing at UF6 heels cylinder arriving from GNF Wilmington (USA) plant at Urenco Almelo (The Netherlands)
"On June 9, 2021, URENCO Netherlands (UNL) received a shipment of four DN30 PSPs [protective structural packaging] from GNF-A [Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas, LLC, Wilmington, NC], each with an empty 30B cylinder containing a solid residual heel of enriched UF6. Subsequently, UNL discovered that one of the 18 thermal plugs on DN30 PSP serial number EB-2020-0099 (Owner serial number UREJ870219) was not present as required.[...]
On May 18, 2021, prior to shipment, a GNF-A operator completed visual inspection log sheet which included verification signoff that all 18 thermal plugs on this PSP were present. [...]
The 21 mm polyamide plastic thermal plug is part of the package thermal protection system. It is designed to melt in a large fire event and allow foam decomposition gases to escape and prevent pressure buildup within the package. The thermal plug also provides a secondary sealing function to prevent the ingress of water into the shell foam."
> Download: 60 Day Report - DN30 Certificate Condition Not Followed , Global Nuclear Fuel, Sep. 16, 2021
Urenco whistleblower put at a disadvantage for reporting nuclear espionage in the 1970s, Whistleblowers Authority report finds
Frits Veerman, the man who rang the bell at Urenco in the 1970s because he saw that the Pakistani spy Abdul Khan had state-secret proliferation-sensitive technical drawings at home, has been disadvantaged for his report. The House for Whistleblowers concludes this in a report published yesterday: "It is plausible that a whistleblower at a large Dutch company was disadvantaged by his then employer, because he reported suspicions of corporate espionage of state secret information." Khan stole secret information about ultracentrifuges and uranium enrichment from Urenco in Almelo that allowed Pakistan to make its own nuclear bomb. Pakistan then sold the Dutch nuclear secrets to Iran and North Korea.
After four years of research, the final report of the Whistleblowers Authority was published yesterday. The House concludes that Veerman has been disadvantaged by Stork FDO, an Urenco operating company, after reporting internally that he had seen Khan have state-secret ultracentrifuge technical drawings at home and Khan's wife was translating metallurgical reports at home.
(Laka July 8, 2020)
> View summary and download full report of Whistleblowers Authority , July 7, 2020 (in Dutch)
Urenco Almelo (Netherlands) sends enriched uranium hexafluoride in unsuitable cylinder to Areva Romans fuel manufacturing plant in France
The Dutch Radiation Protection Authority ANVS has issued a special permit for the return transport of an unsuitable cylinder filled with enriched UF6, from Areva's Romans nuclear fuel plant in France back to Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant:
"URENCO NL has supplied a cylinder with enriched UF6 to Areva NP Romans. Upon arrival it has been found that the cylinder does not conform to one of the requirements of the ISO NORM 7195. Therefore, Areva NP Romans can not process this cylinder in its installation. Also, Areva NP Romans does not have an installation to transfer the UF6 from this cylinder (so-called overflows) to a cylinder that fully meets the requirements. URENCO NL has the possibility of processing this cylinder. The transport of a cylinder with enriched UF6 that does not fully conform to the ISO NORM 7195 does not comply with paragraph 6.4.6.1 of the ADR [European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road] in which this is explicitly required. In order to make the transport possible, URENCO NL has requested a special arrangement for this transport."
> View: ANVS notice in Staatscourant, Nov. 10, 2017 (in Dutch)
> Download ADR applicable as from 1 January 2017 (UNECE)
Dutch whistleblower who warned against Pakistani atomic spy wants reparation
Whistleblower Frits Veerman, who revealed the great atomic espionage in the 1970s, gets to the House for Whistleblowers. He wants reparation and compensation because he feels that the Dutch government has treated him badly and unjust.
Veerman warned forty years ago in vain against the Pakistani spy Abdul Khan. Khan turned out to have stolen sensitive information from Urenco, a producer of enriched uranium. Veerman lost his job, and his career was over.
The law on the House for Whistleblowers took effect July 1, 2016. This law protects and helps employees who want to report wrongdoing in the public interest.
(NOS Oct. 9, 2016)
Urenco reports fire in recycling center of Almelo enrichment plant more than one year late:
"On November 13, 2017, URENCO reports that a fire occurred in the filter drying plant of the Recycling Center on 3 August 2016. Wet filters are dried in the filter drier so that they can be disposed of as radioactive waste. With the help of the external fire brigade, the fire was quickly under control. Immediately after the fire, controls on the release of radioactive substances were carried out. No contaminants with radioactive substances have been detected.
URENCO has conducted an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. This showed that the design of the installation was not well attuned to the actual use and the predefined requirements. This created a risk for fire safety. The installation has been decommissioned and dismantled. URENCO has taken measures to pay more attention in the future to checking whether the design of parts of the installation meets the set requirements.
This event was reported to the ANVS late because URENCO and ANVS did not initially recognize the obligation to report this event. The reason for this is that this obligation to report is based on the costs caused by the fire and not on the basis of safety considerations. During the annual ANVS inspection of the internal fault reports, the reporting obligation was recognized as yet. URENCO then formally notified the event to ANVS.
The ANVS has assessed the measures proposed by URENCO as satisfactory and supervises their implementation.
The ANVS classified this event as INES level 0 on the basis of the information made available by URENCO, a small deviation."
(Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection ANVS Jan. 18, 2018 - emphasis added)
> View: Overview of unusual events at Urenco Almelo plant (ANVS - in Dutch)
Small fire in recycling center of Urenco Almelo enrichment plant:
"On the morning of August 3, 2016, around 08:45 hours, a fire occurred in an induction dryer in the Recycling Center of URENCO Netherlands. In the induction dryer was a vessel with filter residue from a cleaning unit. Such filter residues may contain low-level radioactive material. The safety systems have functioned well and the fire brigade was immediately alerted. After a joint action of the internal emergency response team and the Fire Department the small fire was extinguished and around 09:30 under control. There is no personal injury. Measurements have shown that there has been no radioactive release."
(Urenco Aug. 3, 2016)
Urenco Almelo (and Gronau) may export natural uranium to Russia
The Dutch nuclear safety authority ANVS has issued a license to nuclear transport company DAHER Nuclear Technologies GmbH of Hanau, Germany, for the transport of 1000 t natural and depleted uranium hexafluoride between Urenco's Almelo and Gronau sites and Russia.
> Download ANVS license, Nov. 6, 2015 (652k PDF)
According to answers received by Laka, the references to depleted uranium are "textual errors" - the license is only meant for the transport of natural uranium. The license allows Urenco to send natural uranium to Russia for enrichment in case of capacity bottlenecks.
Dutch regulator issues odd license for transport of uranium hexafluoride feed and tails between Urenco's Gronau plant in Germany and its Almelo plant in the Netherlands - additional traffic to be caused for re-enrichment of depleted uranium?
On Sep. 25, 2015, the Dutch radiation protection authority ANVS issued a transport license to Nuclear Cargo+Service GmbH for the transport of up to 125 tonnes of uranium hexafluoride of natural isotope composition (feed) or depleted uranium (tails) between Urenco's enrichment plants in Gronau (Germany) and Almelo (Netherlands) - both ways.
> Download ANVS licence, Sep. 25, 2015 (602k PDF - in Dutch)
[The purpose of these transports is currently unclear, but it might be related to the re-enrichment of depleted uranium. In its 2014 Annual Report, Urenco mentions provisions made for the re-enrichment of low assay feed back to the assay of natural uranium.]
Small release of enriched UF6 in production hall of Urenco Almelo enrichment plant
On 27 August, an incident took place in a production hall of uranium enrichment plant SP5. There were no personal injuries. There was a limited increase in the measurement of low radioactive material in the ventilation system on the roof of SP5.
The incident took place in a support system in the feed- & take-off, the area where we flow the enriched uranium produced by our centrifuges to transport cylinders.
The production hall where the incident took place, has been taken out of operation in a controlled manner.
(Urenco Aug. 27, 2015)
On Oct. 23, 2015, Urenco Nederland has restarted production capacity that was paused as a result of the incident that took place on 27 August 2015. The investigation into the technical cause of the incident has been concluded and reported to the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS). This investigation was conducted by URENCO, under supervision of the ANVS and with input from independent bodies. It has been concluded that the incident was caused by a chemical reaction as a result of a build-up of fluorine in a filter with trapping material.
(Urenco Oct. 23, 2015)
On Mar. 25, 2016, Urenco Nederland restarted the remaining production capacity which had been paused following the incident that occurred on 27 August 2015. Affected areas inside the enrichment plant have been cleaned extensively and installations and systems have been checked and reinstalled. The Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) has approved restart of production.
(Urenco Mar. 25, 2016)
Watchdog demands State Council to stop uranium transports to Urenco Almelo enrichment plant in view of ban on transports for speculation with uranium
The recent disclosure of storage of uranium hexafluoride at Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant for speculative purposes has led the anti-nuclear watchdog LAKA to demand the State Council to stop uranium transports to the plant in view of the existing ban on transports for speculation with uranium.
(LAKA Apr. 22, 2015)
The State Council dismissed LAKA's appeal on May 4, 2016.
(LAKA May 4, 2016)
> View State Council judgment May 4, 2016 (in Dutch)
Goldman Sachs stored unenriched uranium hexafluoride at Urenco Almelo enrichment plant
> View Goldman Sachs to wind down uranium trading business - after U.S. Senate report sheds some light on it, raising a number of issues
Capacity of Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant decreases
According to Urenco's Annual Report and Accounts 2013 , the capacity of its Almelo (Netherlands) enrichment plant decreased from 5.5 million SWU in 2012 to 5.4 million SWU in 2013.
Enrichment Technology Company dismisses one third of staff at Almelo
Urenco's centrifuge manufacturing subsidiary Enrichment Technology Company is planning to reduce its current workforce of 800 by 240 at its Almelo facility.
(RTV Oost Oct. 2, 2013)
Gas release causes death of two workers from asphyxiation in centrifuge manufacturing plant at Urenco Almelo site - production at all ETC sites stopped
Two men died in an accident at the Enrichment Technology Company (ETC) in Almelo. On March 29, 2013, a release of the noble gas argon caused the asphyxiation of two workers; one of them died the same day, the other on April 2. ETC is a joint venture of Urenco with Areva for the development and production of gas centrifuges and the design of complete uranium enrichment plants.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 2, 2013)
Enrichment Technologies, which is jointly owned by Areva and Urenco, said on Wednesday (Apr. 3) it had shut facilities in five countries after two workers died from their injuries in an accident at its Dutch plant last week.
(Reuters Apr. 3, 2013)
Meanwhile, production has resumed at the ETC facilities in France and in the UK. (Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 4, 2013)
Enrichment Technology Netherlands (ETNL) in Almelo will be fined 50,000 Euros after an accident as a result of which two people deceased. The two men choked when cleaning an oven. The company, owned by Urenco and Areva, develops among other centrifuges to enrich uranium for nuclear power plants.
In the accident, on March 29, 2013, two employees climbed in an oven, which was not examined for the presence of argon gas. That would have had to happen. The company thereby neglected its duty of care. Due to lack of oxygen, the two men suffocated.
(Laka Mar. 8, 2016)
Uranium Action Day protests in Almelo
At the occasion of the International Uranium Action Day, about 50 people gathered in the downtown of Almelo on September 29, 2012, to protest against uranium mining and enrichment.
(LAKA Oct. 1, 2012)
Permit issued for storage building for uranium hexafluoride at Urenco Almelo enrichment plant
On Aug. 10, 2012, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation issued a permit for the construction of a storage building for natural and depleted uranium hexafluoride at Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant.
Complaints can be lodged by September 21, 2012.
> Download Announcement Aug. 13, 2012 (in Dutch)
Protests at opening ceremony for expansion of Urenco Almelo uranium enrichment plant
On June 7, 2012, Dutch crown prince Willem-Alexander opened the new production hall of uranium enricher Urenco in Almelo. The action group Vedan used the opening to protest against nuclear energy.
(Twentsche Courant Tubantia June 7, 2012)
Urenco Almelo enrichment plant obtains license for capacity increase to 6.2 million SWU per year
On Oct. 31, 2011, the Dutch Ministry of Economics informed intervenors that it has licensed the requested capacity increase.
> Download Ministry of Economics announcement, Nov. 2, 2011: Dutch version · German version
Public comment invited on draft decision for capacity increase of Urenco Almelo enrichment plant to 6.2 million SWU per year
On June 29, 2011, the Dutch Ministry of Economics issed a draft decision for the capacity increase of Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant from 4.95 to 6.2 million SWU per year.
Comments are invited by August 10, 2011.
> Download related government documents (in Dutch)
Public comment invited on EIS for capacity increase of Urenco Almelo enrichment plant to 6.2 million SWU per year
Comments have to be submitted by March 30, 2011.
> View Vergunningprocedure Urenco om verrijkingscapaciteit te verhogen , Feb. 17, 2011 (in Dutch - Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie)
> Download Environmental Impact Statement (in Dutch)
Dutch Ministry of Environment issues EIS scoping document for capacity increase of Urenco Almelo enrichment plant to 6.2 million SWU per year for comment
The scoping document for an environmental impact statement for an capacity increase of Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant to 6.2 million SWU per year is open for public comment.
On March 2, 2010, Urenco has lodged a request to increase the capacity of its Almelo enrichment plant from 4.95 to 6.2 million SWU per year.
Comments are invited by May 19, 2010.
> View Dutch Ministry of Environment announcement, April 7, 2010 (in Dutch)
Urenco Almelo enrichment plant applies for capacity increase to 4.95 million SWU per year
Urenco has lodged a request to increase the capacity of its Almelo enrichment plant from 4.5 to 4.95 million SWU per year.
Comments are invited by September 15, 2009.
> View Dutch Ministry of Environment announcement (in Dutch)
Urenco Almelo enrichment plant reaches capacity of 4 million SWU per year
On 31 March 2009 Urenco announced that the enrichment site in Almelo reached the milestone of 4 million SW/a capacity when the 6th cascade of SP5 hall 5 came online.
Explosion in centrifuge manufacturing plant at Urenco Almelo site
At approx. 22:30 on July 23, 2008, an explosion occured at the centrifuge manufacturing plant of Urenco's subsidiary ETC at Almelo. The approx. 25 employees present in the shop evacuated the building without problems.
(NU.nl July 24, 2008)
Dutch Ministry discloses more details on depleted uranium disposition of Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant
On Jan. 22, 2008, the Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM), in an answer to a parliamentary question, disclosed the transport statistics of the depleted uranium generated at Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant. The data includes the exports of depleted uranium to Russia (for re-enrichment), and to France (for conversion to U3O8).
> View details
Dutch Ministry discloses details on depleted uranium disposition of Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant
On Nov. 27, 2007, the Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM), in an answer to a parliamentary question, disclosed the following information on the disposition of the depleted uranium generated at Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant:
- Almost half of the depleted uranium generated is sent to the Centrale Organisatie Voor Radioactief Afval (COVRA) radioactive waste facility, where it is stored. Approximately the same amount is sent to Russia for re-enrichment. Only a small fraction of the depleted uranium generated stays behind at Urenco's site.
- On average, an annual amount of 3700 t of depleted uranium is sent to Russia, and 740 t of natural-equivalent uranium are returned from Russia. The secondary tails generated from the re-enrichment process remain in Russia.
> Download Beantwoording Kamervragen lid Poppe 2070802570 over transport van kernafval (MS Word, in Dutch)
U.S. NRC issues export license for enrichment of Chinese origin uranium at Urenco's European plants
> View here
On Oct. 15, 2007, Ministerie van VROM issued the requested license amendment. The amendment can be appealed before the Raad van State until Dec. 5, 2007.
On June 28, 2007, Ministerie van VROM released the draft license amendment allowing for the increase of the licensed capacity of the Almelo enrichment plant from 3500 t SWU to 4500 t SWU for public comment.
On Oct. 19, 2006, Urenco filed the license application and an environmental assessment for the increase of the licensed capacity of its Almelo enrichment plant from 3500 t SWU to 4500 t SWU. On Nov. 29, 2006, Ministerie van VROM invited public comments on the environmental assessment.
In January 2006, Urenco Nederland B.V. began preparing an environmental assessment for a further increase of the licensed capacity of its Almelo enrichment plant from 3500 t SWU to 4500 t SWU. The comment period has been opened.
Further capacity increase to 3500 t SWU planned for Almelo enrichment plant
On July 13, 2005, the comment period on the revised "Ontwerpbeschikking" for the project was opened.
> View details (NENO - in Dutch)
> Download Sammeleinspruchslisten in Deutsch 
(BBU e.V. - Collective comment forms in German)
A new public participation process was started in Feb. 2005.
On Oct. 27, 2004, the Dutch Council of State (Raad van State ) declared the license for the capacity increase null and void. The decision was based on an irregularity in the public involvement process: the draft licence had only been published in the official journal and in local newspapers, but the residents living near the plant had not been notified individually. The licensing process therefore has to be repeated. (Gronauer Nachrichten Oct. 27, 2004)
> View Council of State decision Oct. 27, 2004 (in Dutch)
This decision came in response to a complaint filed by Dutch environmental groups:
> View Milieudefensie news release Oct. 27, 2004 (in Dutch)
The requested capacity increase was licensed on Feb. 23, 2004.
A hearing was held on August 19, 2003.
On May 23, 2003, Urenco Nederland B.V. has submitted an application for a further increase of the licensed capacity of its Almelo enrichment plant from 2800 t SWU to 3500 t SWU. Early in 2003, the licensed capacity had already been increased from 2500 to 2800 t SWU.
(Gronauer Nachrichten Aug. 6, 2003)
Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant and Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant not included in Germany's nuclear phase-out
On April 15, 2023, the final shutdown of the last three power reactors completed the phase-out of nuclear power in Germany.
Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant and Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant remain in operation, though, as they are not covered by the phase-out law.
German Federal Environment Ministry confirms will to extend nuclear phase-out to Gronau enrichment plant and Lingen nuclear fuel plant
On Mar. 11, 2021, at the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Fukushima reactor disaster in Japan, the German Federal Environment Ministry released a position paper listing 12 issues that still have to be accomplished to complete the nuclear phase-out in the country. Point No. 1 reads:
"1. Shutdown of the nuclear factories in Lingen and Gronau
The Federal Environment Ministry [BMU] is of the opinion that the nuclear phase-out in Germany is not compatible with the production of fuel elements for nuclear facilities abroad. That is why it advocates the closure of the plants in Lingen and Gronau, which must be implemented in the next legislative period. According to an expert opinion on behalf of the BMU, closure would be legally possible. However, a corresponding initiative by the BMU did not find the necessary support in the federal government during this legislative period. In the opinion of the BMU, a legal regulation to end fuel element production in Germany and the operation of the uranium enrichment plant in Gronau is the legally secure, correct solution to end the intolerable situation that foreign nuclear power plants near the border are operated with fuel elements from German production."
> Download: BMU Position Paper, Mar. 11, 2021 (in German)
Legal opinions find no obstacles to closing down Urenco Gronau enrichment plant and ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant by law
Two legal opinions commissioned by the German Federal Environment Ministry (BMUB) come to the conclusion that there are no legal obstacles to closing Germany's only nuclear fuel factories, the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant and the ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant by passing a law. Germany would, however, have to leave the Treaty of Almelo - concluded between the governments of the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany - at one year's notice, to do so.
> View BMUB release Nov. 15, 2017 (in German, with links to opinions)
Nuclear fuel facilities in Germany robust against natural forces, government report finds - but effects of chemical toxicity excluded from scope of study
The Nuclear Waste Management Commission (Entsorgungskommission - ESK) that advises Germany's federal environment ministry, has released its report on the robustness of the German nuclear fuel cycle facilities against natural forces, such as earthquakes, floodings, strong winds, strong precipitation events, etc., and other accidental events, such as loss of power, fire, plane crash, and explosions. The report had been commissioned in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster.
The scope of the study was limited to accidental events - planned attacks on the plants were not considered. Furthermore, the scope was limited to radiological impacts, explicitly excluding effects of chemical toxicity: this constitutes a serious limitation for the Gronau enrichment plant, in particular, where the large open uranium hexafluoride cylinder yards represent a massive toxicity hazard.
The report finds that both the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant
and the ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant can withstand most of the stress factors considered, while events they cannot withstand are rated highly unlikely. The impact of accidental plane crashs remains unclear, in particular for the Gronau plant.
> Download: Stellungnahme der Entsorgungskommission, ESK-Stresstest für Anlagen und Einrichtungen der Ver- und Entsorgung in Deutschland, Teil 1: Anlagen der Brennstoffversorgung, Zwischenlager für bestrahlte Brennelemente und Wärme entwickelnde radioaktive Abfälle, Anlagen zur Behandlung bestrahlter Brennelemente, 14. März 2013 (1.4MB PDF - in German)
Protests in Germany delay MOX fuel transport from Sellafield
Police cleared several sit-down demonstrations in Nordenham, where the vessel "Atlantic Osprey" arrived in the afternoon. At the Grohnde nuclear power plant, the destination of the MOX fuel transport, protesters formed several blockades, as well.
(Der Spiegel Nov. 18, 2012)
Protests in Germany against next MOX fuel transport from Sellafield
On Nov. 3, 2012, hundreds of activists protested in Nordenham, where a second sea transport of Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel will arrive from Sellafield (UK), and near the Grohnde nuclear plant, the final destination of the transport.
(Radio Bremen Nov. 3, 2012)
Centrifuge builder Enrichment Technology cuts down workforce, due to "market saturation"
Uranium enrichment centrifuge builder Enrichment Technology Company Ltd. , a joint venture of Urenco and Areva, cuts down the workforce at all of its sites worldwide. The company expects the cutback of hundreds of its currently 2000 employees worldwide. This concerns also the site in Jülich, Germany, with currently 500 employees. It is feared that 100 positions might be eliminated by end 2014.
The company cites market saturation and the impacts of the Fukushima disaster as the causes for the cutbacks.
(Aachener Zeitung Oct. 4, 2012)
At its Gronau, Germany, site, the company plans to eliminate more than 100 positions.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Mar. 7, 2013)
Protests in Germany against arrival of MOX fuel transport from Sellafield
For the first time since the end of the 1980s, a sea transport of Mixed Oxid (MOX) fuel has arrived in Germany. The "Atlantic Osprey" brought eight fuel elements from Sellafield (UK) to Nordenham. From there, they were trucked to E.on's Grohnde nuclear power plant near Hameln.
The vessel was escorted by police ships, and Greenpeace boats drove around it. Protesters awaited the ship - in rubber dinghies and kayaks on the river Weser, and at the quayside in Nordenham.
Another transport of eight more MOX fuel elements is expected within the next few weeks.
(Der Spiegel Sep. 23, 2012)
According to confidential documents of the nuclear industry, German nuclear power plants have been using fuel elements made from recycled uranium of West European origin, mixed with highly enriched uranium from Russian military sources since the year 2000.
The fuel elements were produced in a plant located near Moscow [apparently the TVEL Elektrostal plant] and were used in the Obrigheim, Neckarwestheim, Brokdorf, Unterweser, and Gundremmingen nuclear power plants.
The total amount of military material used is at least 100 t, comprising nuclear weapons material and material from nuclear submarines. One thousand fuel elements containing military uranium have been used in German power plants at least, and most likely another 500. The operation is still ongoing, with the use of another 180 fuel elements being planned.
(Süddeutsche Zeitung Sep. 15, 2012)
Note: Euratom's annual statistics reveal the delivery of HEU feed to EU utilities since 2003.
The German Chief Federal Prosecutor is investigating the role of two Germans in the proliferation of uranium enrichment centrifuge technology to Libya.
(Generalbundesanwalt Aug. 26, 2004)
The agreement on the phase out of nuclear energy production concluded between the German government and the utilites on June 14, 2000, does not mention the nuclear fuel facilities, such as the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant, or the ANF Lingen fuel fabrication plant.
The agreement is available from the Federal Environmental Ministry .
Aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: DU exports of Urenco's Gronau enrichment facility · Upgrading of Urenco's enrichment tails in Russia
> See also: Urenco's Depleted Uranium Storage Project (Germany)
The Gronau enrichment plant is not covered by Germany's nuclear phase-out.
Uranium enrichment at Gronau is opposed by AKU Gronau .
Urenco constructs solar park at site of its Gronau enrichment plant
Once built, 14,112 solar panels will generate almost 6 MW peak, supported by a storage system of over 10.3 MWh.
(Urenco May 21, 2024)
Easter March participants demonstrate against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
At the occasion of the Gronau Easter March, about 100 people participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant on Mar. 29, 2024.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 2, 2024)
Urenco plans to invest in Gronau enrichment plant - in spite of Germany's phase-out of nuclear power
In Gronau, Urenco is planning investments in the hundreds of millions [of Euros] in the coming years. The recently reduced production capacities are to be expanded again within the scope of the present approval.
The nuclear phase-out in Germany has hardly any impact on Urenco in Germany. The uranium enrichment plant is faced with increasing global demand - not least due to the Ukraine war and the resulting reluctance to accept Russia as a supplier.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 28, 2023)
Urenco has now officially announced in the Gronau city council that it will expand the annual capacity of the uranium enrichment plant by more than 20% - from 3.7 million SWU to 4.5 million SWU.
(sofa-ms.de Aug. 17, 2023)
Easter March participants demonstrate against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
At the occasion of the Gronau Easter March, about 100 people participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant on April 7, 2023.
(Süddeutsche Zeitung Apr. 7, 2023)
Opponents of nuclear power occupy power poles near Urenco Gronau enrichment plant
Since Tuesday (May 3) morning, opponents of nuclear power have occupied two electricity pylons in Gronau that supply the uranium enrichment plant (UAA).
(Westfälische Nachrichten May 3, 2022)
200 Easter March participants demonstrate against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
At the occasion of the Gronau Easter March, about 200 people participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant on April 15, 2022.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 15, 2022)
In view of Ukraine invasion, Urenco terminates delivery contract with Russia
Urenco has terminated its contract with its supplier in Russia in light of the war in Ukraine. "We are deeply concerned about the current developments in Ukraine (...). We have terminated the contract with our supplier in Russia and stopped all deliveries in both directions," the company writes.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Mar. 8, 2022)
However, Urenco, wants to keep the supply of nuclear fuel to Ukraine open. The company is "deeply concerned" about the war in Eastern Europe. On the other hand, the Ukraine is a "good customer" who is offered "help", said company spokesman Chris Breuer when asked by the taz.
(taz Mar. 11, 2022)
City council of Münster opposes Urenco Gronau's uranium transports through city area
On Dec. 15, 2021, the Münster City Council passed a resolution calling for an end to uranium transports through Münster (Westfalen). This would particularly affect uranium waste transports from the uranium enrichment plant in Gronau to final storage in the Russian nuclear city of Novouralsk.
The Münster City Council is also calling for an end to uranium enrichment in Gronau and for the single-track railroad line between Gronau and Münster to be taken out of service for the transport of radioactive materials.
(sofa-ms.de Dec. 16, 2021)
Bicycle demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
In remembrance of the nuclear bomb droppings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, around 100 people on bicycles participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant on Aug. 8, 2021.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Aug. 8, 2021)
Easter March participants demonstrate against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
At the occasion of the Gronau Easter March, more than 100 people participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant on April 2, 2021, in conformity with the current COVID-19 rules. (Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 2, 2021)
Another demonstration took place against the ETC centrifuge development center in Jülich. (Sofa Münster Apr. 2, 2021)
The case for the immediate shutdown of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
The anti-nuclear group SOFA (Sofortiger Atomausstieg / Immediate nuclear phase-out) has compiled a comprehensive report making a case for the immediate shutdown of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant.
> Download: Urenco: Gronau uranium enrichment plant and Jülich centrifuge research center - Threat to Nuclear Phase-out and Peace, Sofa (Immediate nuclear phase-out) Münster, March 2021 (259kB PDF)
> Download: Urenco: Urananreicherungsanlage Gronau und Zentrifugenforschung Jülich - Gefährdung für Atomausstieg und Frieden Sofa (Sofortiger Atomausstieg) Münster, März 2021 (629kB PDF - in German)
Open Petition launched for shutdown of Urenco Gronau enrichment plant, after Easter March cancelled in view of COVID-19 pandemic
> Access: Ostermarsch-Appell Gronau/Jülich - Urananreicherung beenden / Atomwaffen ächten , launched Mar. 30, 2020 (openPetition - in German)
Demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
More than 100 anti-nuclear activists participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant on Aug. 4, 2019. They demanded the closure of the plant, once the last nuclear power plant in Germany will be phased out in 2022, at the latest.
(WDR Aug. 4, 2019)
271 uranium hexafluoride transports originated from Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant in 2018
> View here
250 Easter March participants demonstrate against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
At the occasion of the Gronau Easter March, about 250 people participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant on April 19, 2019.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 19, 2019)
250 Easter March participants demonstrate against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
At the occasion of the Gronau Easter March, about 250 people participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant on March 30, 2018.
(dpa Mar. 30, 2018)
Blockade of train carrying UF6 to Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On Oct. 5, 2017, six activists have chained themselves to the tracks of the Münster - Gronau railway line to stop a train carrying uranium hexafluoride to Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Oct. 5, 2017)
Urenco swaps depleted uranium between Gronau (Germany) and Capenhurst (UK) plants
In 2016, Urenco has swapped 10,100 t of depleted U3O8, resulting from the de-conversion (in France) of 12,700 t of depleted UF6 (tails) originating from its Gronau enrichment plant, for depleted UF6 (tails) from its Capenhurst (UK) plant for re-enrichment.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Jul. 21, 2017)
According to the answer of the German federal government to a parliamentary question, the re-enrichment is to take place in Capenhurst. The material in question has an assay of 0.227% U-235. (Bundestags-Drucksache 18/13402 , 24 Aug 2017).
250 Easter March participants demonstrate against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
At the occasion of the Gronau Easter March, about 250 people participated in a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant on April 14, 2017.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 14, 2017)
272 uranium hexafluoride transports to and from Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant in 2016
> See here
German Ministry to commission study on legal requirements for shutdown of Urenco Gronau enrichment plant
The German Federal Ministry of the Environment has confirmed that this spring, the legal requirements for the closure of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant will have to be examined by a legal expert.
(Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Feb. 24, 2017)
German government discloses export licenses issued in 2011 - 2015 for enriched uranium from Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
> View here
German Federal Minister of Environment prepared to discuss demand for shutdown of Urenco Gronau enrichment plant
In a letter to Northrhine-Westphalia state minister of environment Johannes Remmel, federal environment minister Barbara Hendricks wrote that she is prepared to discuss his demand for a shutdown of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant which is not part of Germany's nuclear phase-out plan. There is, however, no common position among the members of the federal government on this issue, and the plant has obtained an unlimited license in 2005, she adds.
(Rheinische Post July 28, 2016)
Blockade of Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On July 11, 2016, 5:00 AM approx. 20 anti-nuclear activists started a blockade of both access roads to Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant. The rear entrance was later cleared by police.
(SOFA Münster/WDR July 11, 2016)
Police ended the blockade after 36 hours on July 12 at approx. 5 PM.
(Westfälische Nachrichten July 12, 2016)
State environmental minister adopts environmentalists' demand for shutdown of Urenco Gronau enrichment plant
Johannes Remmel, Northrhine-Westphalia state minister of environment, calls for the shutdown of Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant, given that it continues to deliver enriched uranium for Belgium's ailing nuclear reactors of Tihange and Doel.
(Westfälische Nachrichten June 14, 2016)
150 Easter March participants demonstrate against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
At the occasion of the Gronau Easter March, about 150 people participated in a demonstration against Urenco's enrichment plant.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Mar. 25, 2016)
State discloses list of uranium hexafluoride transports to and from Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant in 2015
> View here
German Greens demand closure of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant by 2022
On Nov. 21, 2015, a federal party conference of the German Greens supported a motion demanding the closure of Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant. The plant is not covered by Germany's nuclear phase-out plan.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Nov. 23, 2015)
Dutch regulator issues odd license for transport of uranium hexafluoride feed and tails between Urenco's Gronau plant in Germany and its Almelo plant in the Netherlands - additional traffic to be caused for re-enrichment of depleted uranium?
> View here
Protest at the occasion of 30th anniversary of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
On Aug. 15, 2015, about 100 people attended a rally held in Gronau at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Urenco's enrichment plant. The rally included a performance by the group Orden der Atomianer , drawing attention to the problem of how to communicate the hazards of nuclear waste repositories to future generations.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Aug. 17, 2015)
300 protest against Urenco sale at Gronau enrichment plant site
During the Easter march on April, 3, 2015, about 300 people participated in a demonstration at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant site. They warned against the proposed sale of Urenco.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 3, 2015)
189 uranium hexafluoride transports to and from Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant in 2014
> View here
Activists block rail siding of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant in protest against planned storage of depleted uranium oxide
> View here
More than 12,000 t of depleted uranium hexafluoride from Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant deconverted at Areva's Usine W plant (France)
> View here
Easter march participants protest against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant and proliferation hazard from proposed sale of Urenco
On Apr. 18, 2014, 350 participants held an Easter march at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. Speakers pointed out the hazards from the toxic uranium hexafluoride processed at the plant, the planned long-term storage of depleted uranium at the site, the impacts of uranium mining to get at the uranium in the first place, and the proliferation hazard from the proposed sale of Urenco.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 18, 2014)
Uranium hexafluoride transports across Baltic Sea on passenger ferries
> View here
Capacity of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant decreases
According to Urenco's Annual Report and Accounts 2013 , the capacity of its Gronau (Germany) enrichment plant decreased from 4.2 million SWU in 2012 to 4.1 million SWU in 2013.
State Government discloses latest uranium hexafluoride transport statistics from/to Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
> Download: Antwort der Landesregierung auf die Kleine Anfrage 1955 vom 5. Februar 2014, des Abgeordneten Hanns-Jörg Rohwedder PIRATEN, Drucksache 16/4951, Atomtransporte durch NRW 2013 , Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen, Drucksache 16/5200, 07.03.2014
Blockade of Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
Since 4:30 AM the main access road to Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant is blocked by anti-nuclear activists.
(Westfälische Nachrichten July 22, 2013)
State Government discloses uranium hexafluoride transport statistics from/to Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
> Download: Antwort
der Landesregierung auf die Kleine Anfrage 1264 vom 21. Mai 2013 des Abgeordneten Hanns-Jörg Rohwedder PIRATEN, Drucksache 16/3023, Atomtransporte von und zur Urananreicherungsanlage Gronau in 2012/13 , Landtag Nordrhein-Westfalen, Drucksache 16/3380, 24.06.2013 (830k PDF)
1000 join protest at Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On March 9, 2013, approx. 1000 participants held a demonstration at the Gronau enrichment plant, demanding the closure of the plant in view of the Fukushima disaster and the German nuclear phase-out policy.
(WDR Mar. 9, 2013)
> View photo album (anti atom aktuell)
Groups demand larger no-fly zone around Gronau enrichment plant
Anti-nuclear activists and environmentalists demand a larger no-fly zone around Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant. The current zone comprises only an altitude of 600 metres and a distance of 1.5 kilometres.
A court had recently ruled that an altitude of 2600 metres and a distance of 3 kilometres is not sufficient for the Wannsee nuclear research reactor near Berlin.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Feb. 14, 2013)
Uranium Action Day protests in Gronau
At the occasion of the International Uranium Action Day, about 100 people gathered in the downtown of Gronau on September 29, 2012. Protesting against uranium mining and enrichment, they formed a human chain between two banks involved in nuclear projects.
(SOFA Münster Oct. 1, 2012)
Urenco: Gronau enrichment plant passes "stress test"
According to Urenco, the so-called "stress test" confirmed that the plant can withstand events even beyond its design criteria, such as plane crashs, earthquakes, floodings, fires, and loss of offsite power. In no case would the effective radiation dose to any person be higher than 50 Millisieverts - the standard applicable to accident scenarios, according to the German radiation protection regulations (Strahlenschutzverordnung). The full report has been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Environment.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Aug. 28, 2012)
> Download Stress test results , March 14, 2013 (BMUB - in German)
Protests halt train carrying depleted uranium hexafluoride from Gronau (Germany) to France for deconversion
In the afternoon of July 30, 2012, activists stopped all rail traffic at Metelen, preventing the passing of a train carrying depleted uranium hexafluoride from Gronau (Germany) to France for deconversion. Two activists had chained themselves to the tracks, while others protested by abseiling from trees above the rail line.
(Westfälische Nachrichten July 30, 2012)
On July 31, 2012, activists blocked the access road to the enrichment plant.
(Westfälische Nachrichten July 31, 2012)
Smoldering fire in switchbox at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
On June 7, 2012, a smoldering fire occured in a switchbox at the Gronau enrichment plant. The fire was automatically detected and extinguished. According to Urenco, the switchbox was implemented in multiple instances, allowing for a continued safe operation of the plant. No risks had to be expected for the employees or the environment, as there were no radioactivity present in the area concerned.
(Westfälische Nachrichten June 8, 2012)
Protest against train carrying depleted uranium hexafluoride from Gronau (Germany) to France for deconversion
On June 4, 2012, around 10 people held a spontaneous protest at the Münster main station against a train crossing the station. The train carried depleted uranium hexafluoride and was on its way from Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant to Areva's Usine W plant at Tricastin, France, where the depleted UF6 is to be deconverted to U3O8 to make it better suitable for long-term storage.
(SOFA Münster June 4, 2012)
Activists stop train carrying depleted uranium hexafluoride from Gronau to France for deconversion
On May 7, 2012, between approx. 13 h and 20 h, activists stopped a train carrying approx. 450 t of depleted uranium hexafluoride near Münster by abseiling above the rail track. The train was on its way from Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant to Areva's Usine W plant at Tricastin, France, where the depleted UF6 is to be deconverted to U3O8 to make it better suitable for long-term storage.
(SOFA Münster May 7, 2012)
The action entailed a complete closure of the railway line Münster - Altenberge, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. The substitute bus service provided could not meet the demand.
> View live ticker of Münstersche Zeitung (including photos) (in German)
> View more photos (anti-atom-aktuell)
Areva Richland nuclear fuel plant receives non-compliant cylinder with enriched UF6 from Urenco Gronau
> View here
More than 2000 at demonstration against Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On the anniversary of the Fukushima disaster, at least 2000 people held an anti-nuclear demonstration at the Gronau enrichment plant.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Mar. 11, 2012)
Study sheds light on nuclear transports in Germany, in particular transports of uranium hexafluoride
> View here
Greens demand change of nuclear law to limit life of Urenco Gronau enrichment plant
Greens are demanding a change of German nuclear law to limit the life of the Gronau enrichment plant and Lingen nuclear fuel plant. The nuclear phase out only covers the nuclear reactors in the country, while the other nuclear facilities have unlimited licenses. An expertise elaborated by the scientific service of the Bundestag (lower chamber of Federal Parliament) showed that these license cannot be limited afterwards, unless the nuclear law is changed.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Aug. 18, 2011)
Germany orders "stress test" for Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
According to the answer of the Federal Ministry of Environment to a parliamentary question, the German government now has ordered so-called "stress tests" also for nuclear facilities other than power reactors, such as the Gronau enrichment plant, the Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant, research reactors, and the facilities for interim storage of spent fuel. As with the power reactors, the stress tests are to evaluate the hazards from plane crashes, earthquakes, oder power outages.
(WAZ Aug. 9, 2011)
Small release of uranium hexafluoride in Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On July 23, 2011, a small release of uranium hexafluoride occured in an autoclave in the Gronau enrichment plant. UF6 concentrations in room air remained below acceptable limits.
(Ministerium Bauen und Verkehr des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, July 25, 2011)
Another blockade of Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On July 6, 2011, activists of Robin Wood held a blockade of the main access road to the Gronau enrichment plant for more than 12 hours.
(Robin Wood July 6, 2011)
Blockade of Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
At 6:00 a.m. on July 4, 2011, anti-nuclear activists started a blockade of the main access road to the Gronau enrichment plant.
(SOFA Münster July 4, 2011)
Protest rally demands extension of Germany's nuclear phase-out to Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
Around 300 people protested on July 3, 2011, against the continued operation of the Gronau enrichment plant. They demanded the inclusion of the plant in the German nuclear phase-out decision.
(WDR July 4, 2011)
Tails cylinder falls from forklift at Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On June 20, 2011, a cylinder filled with depleted uranium hexafluoride (tails) fell from a height of 30 cm from a forklift to the ground at the Gronau enrichment plant. The cylinder remained undamaged, no radiation was released and nobody was injured.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Jun. 20, 2011)
More than 5000 at demonstration against Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On April 25, 2011, more than 5000 people joined a demonstration against Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. They demanded an immediate shutdown of the enrichment plant and of all nuclear power plants in Germany.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 25, 2011)
Emergency generator fails during recurring test at Gronau enrichment plant
Due to a defective valve, a diesel emergency generator failed on Jan. 5, 2011, during a recurring test at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant.
(North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economics, Jan. 11, 2011)
Urenco maintained strict silence on crane accident at Gronau enrichment plant
On Oct. 12, 2010, the brakes of a gantry crane in the feed storage area of the Gronau enrichment plant failed, and the crane ran into its buffers, thereby damaging the buffers. The crane carried no load at the time of the accident. Nobody was injured.
According to Urenco CEO Dr Joachim Ohnemus, the brake had failed due to a software error. The cause of the failure is still under investigation.
To avoid unfavourable publicity, Urenco had not informed the public about the event.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Dec. 3, 2010)
Easter march against Urenco Gronau enrichment plant
120 people participated in an Easter march held on April 4, 2010, against the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant.
(ddp Apr. 4, 2010)
Worker exposed to uranium hexafluoride at Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On Jan. 21, 2010, at 14:32 hrs, a worker at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant was exposed to uranium hexafluoride, when preparing a transport cylinder for a pressure test. The cylinder had been delivered as "empty and cleansed". The amount of uranium hexafluoride released is unknown, but was only a few grams, according to Urenco's estimates. The worker suffered contamination at arms and legs and was hospitalized.
The contaminated area of the plant was isolated and the contaminated air released via the stack. The release to the environment was equivalent to one sixth of the permissible weekly amount. The environmental monitoring around the plant detected no unusual features.
(North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economics Jan. 22, 2010)
According to Urenco, the supplier had erroneously labeled the cylinder as "clean and washed out" though it still contained 1.6 kilograms of uranium hexafluoride. Urenco therefore dismisses any responsibility for the accident. The cylinder was of the type 30B which is used for enriched uranium; it was supplied by Westinghouse Electric Sweden in Västerås. Apparently, the four-step washing process in Sweden was interrupted after the first step for unknown reasons and the cylinder prematurely declared clean.
(Münstersche Zeitung Jan. 26/27, 2010; Westfälische Nachrichten Jan. 27, 2010; Urenco Jan. 27, 2010; SSM Jan. 29, 2010)
> Download preliminary report of North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Economics Jan. 27, 2010 (47k PDF - in German)
> Download Transcript of Jan. 27, 2010, meeting of NRW State Parliament committee of economics (113k PDF - in German)
So it appears that the residual UF6 in the cylinder were "heels" (residue left after standard unloading procedure, view details). In this case, the fact that the cylinder was not empty would have been easily detectable with any most simple Geiger counter, since such "heels" cylinders generate the by far highest radiation fields encountered in enrichment plants (view details). So, Urenco needs to explain why the labeling error remained undetected.
According to a report of the supplier of the cylinder, Westinghouse Electric Sweden, Urenco opened the cylinder, although no document confirmed it as empty and cleaned. Westinghouse confesses to the error of having the cylinder shipped before it was completely cleaned, but maintains that this error should have been noticed by Urenco.
(taz Mar. 19, 2010)
Medical investigations showed that the worker suffered no acute lung damage. The effective radiation dose received by the worker was initially estimated at 1.1 mSv and later revised to 0.84 mSv. (Münstersche Zeitung Jan. 26, 2010; Westfälische Nachrichten Apr. 23, 2010)
Assuming that the dose of 1.1 mSv is completely attributed to inhalation, this dose is obtained for a single inhalation event of approx. 30 mg enriched UF6, containing approx. 20 mg enriched U (see Uranium Radiation Individual Dose Calculator).
The inhalation of 20 mg U of type F (as applicable for UF6) leads to an initial uranium concentration in the kidney of approx. 2 µg/g, which is below the often used nephrotoxicity standard of 3 µg/g (see Uranium Biokinetics Calculator). However, there have been many requests to lower this limit to 0.3 µg/g, to avoid kidney damage. The uranium concentration in the worker's kidney would fall below this lower limit only after approx. one month.
As the Gronau hospital refused to accept the patient for capacity problems, he was brought to the hospital of the neighbouring town of Ochtrup. As this hospital apparently was not prepared to deal with such a patient, he was then transfered to the university hospital in Münster. On Jan. 25, 2010, the patient was transfered to the University of Düsseldorf's nuclear medicine hospital at the Jülich research center, from where he was discharged on Jan. 29. (Westfälische Nachrichten Jan. 22/25/29, 2010)
This odyssey in result of a release of just a few grams of uranium hexafluoride raises the question of what would have happened in the case of a major release of uranium hexafluoride with dozens or hundreds of victims. And, Ochtrup is located 9 km to the east (that is downwind at the prevailing winds) from the enrichment plant. It is amazing to learn that the institutions around a plant that has been handling thousands of tonnes of uranium hexafluoride annually for decades are not even prepared to respond adequately to such a relatively minor release.
On Jan. 23, 2010, Greenpeace held a protest demonstration at the Gronau Urenco plant. On Jan. 24, 2010, a demonstration with 80 participants was held in the city of Gronau. A further demonstration with 150 participants was held in the city of Gronau on Jan. 30, 2010. (Westfälische Nachrichten Jan. 24/30, 2010)
During a special session of the Gronau city council held on Feb. 3, 2010, Urenco CEO Joachim Ohnemus denied any own neglects, but accused the employees of the Gronau hospital of "total ignorance" of the emergency plans [!].
He moreover announced that additional monitoring procedures would be established at the plant to prevent any not completely cleaned cylinders from being submitted to future pressure tests.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Feb. 3, 2010)
[It is not reported, whether Ohnemus gave any explanations, why such monitoring had not been introduced earlier.]
On July 6, 2010, the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economics released its final report on the event. The report identifies the wrong labeling of the cylinder by the supplier as the primary cause of the event. But it also finds that Urenco had overlooked several indicators for the wrong labeling, and that the release could have been averted by a more cautious handling procedure.
On Aug. 31, 2010, the public prosecutor of Münster announced that the investigations into the accident have been dropped. The employees of Urenco cannot be held responsible for any violations of their duties, senior public prosecutor Wolfgang Schweer said. The spilled amount of uranium were too small to present a hazard to humans, and, according to an expertise, the worker involved does not have to fear any health effects.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Aug. 31, 2010)
Reportable event at Gronau uranium enrichment plant
On July 17, 2009, during works for the plant expansion, control equipment had been connected to the operating plant without conducting necessary tests. The event was classified INES 0.
(Westfälische Nachrichten July 25, 2009)
Completion of capacity increase at Urenco Gronau enrichment plant delayed
The completion of the capacity increase of the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant has been delayed for almost one year, and the startup date is still unknown.
(taz June 6, 2008)
U.S. NRC issues export license for enrichment of Chinese origin uranium at Urenco's European plants
> View here
Protests against uranium hexafluoride rail transport from Pierrelatte to Gronau
On Dec. 6 and 7, 2006, a rail transport of uranium hexafluoride from the Pierrelatte conversion plant (France) to Gronau (Germany) was accompanied by protests in Waltrop, Hamm, Ahaus, and Gronau.
(SOFA Münster Dec. 7, 2006)
Protests in Gronau against uranium hexafluoride rail transport arriving from Pierrelatte
Upon arrival of a rail transport of uranium hexafluoride from the Pierrelatte conversion plant (France) on Nov. 16, 2006, protests were held in Gronau at the station and at the Urenco enrichment plant.
(SOFA Münster Nov. 16, 2006)
Anti-nuclear camp held at Gronau enrichment plant
On June 16-18, 2006, the organisation Nirgendwo (Nowhere) held an anti-nuclear camp with 50 - 60 participants at the Urenco Gronau enrichment plant.
(Westfälische Nachrichten June 18, 2006)
Urenco Deutschland receives German "Ethics in Business" award
On Nov. 2, 2005, the German branch of Urenco received the German Ethics in Business award.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Nov. 4, 2005)
Note 1: Rather than receiving money, the prizewinners have to pay EUR 4900 to the awarding organization.
Note 2: A partnering organization of the award is BUND , the German branch of Friends of the Earth.
Green party local group dissolved for capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
In reaction to the licensing of the capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant by the Social Democrat / Green Party coalition State Government, the Gronau local group of the Green Party has declared its dissolution.
(Gronauer Nachrichten April 22, 2005)
Gronau enrichment plant granted license for capacity increase
On Feb. 14, 2005, the Northrhine-Westphalia State Ministry of Energy (MVEL) issued a license for the planned capacity increase to 4500 t SWU/y at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. The license comprises the construction of a second enrichment plant next to the existing plant. The existing plant holds a license for 1800 t SWU/y and will reach this capacity in 2005. In addition, the license allows for the long-term onsite storage of 50,000 t of depleted uranium in oxide form. (MVEL Feb. 14, 2005)
The whole capacity increase will cost Euro 700 - 800 million. A first tranche of Euro 200 million has already been allocated. First production at the new plant is expected to begin in the second half of 2007. (Gronauer Nachrichten Feb. 14, 2005)
Failure of ventilation system at Gronau enrichment plant
On March 21, 2004, rain water caused a short circuit in an air pressure sensor of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. Subsequently, parts of the plant's ventilation system failed. The problem was corrected within 70 minutes. According to Urenco, the event was categorized below INES 0 on the International Nuclear Event Scale.
(Gronauer Nachrichten March 25, 2004)
Security guards at Gronau enrichment plant on strike
The private security guards at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant are on strike. They are participating in strikes organized by the "ver.di" trade union in Northrhine-Westphalia.
(AP July 25, 2003)
6700 objections filed against Gronau enrichment plant extension
On March 26, 2003, AKU Gronau handed 6700 objections against the capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau uranium enrichment plant over to the NRW state ministry of energy.
> See also: AKU Gronau · BUND NRW (in German)
Protest at Gronau enrichment plant
On September 1, 2002, approx. 200 anti-nuclear activists gathered in front of the Gronau enrichment plant to protest against the expansion of the plant.
Blockade at Gronau enrichment plant
16 anti-nuclear campaigners blocked the access to the Gronau enrichment plant early on August 30, 2002.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Aug 31, 2002)
State Government may stop capacity increase
According to a legal opinion commissioned by the Green Party, the Nordrhein-Westfalen state government is in the position to deny the requested capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. The federal nuclear phase-out law would allow for such denial, according to the author of the opinion.
(Westfälische Rundschau May 3, 2002)
Environmental NGOs oppose planned capacity increase
At the occasion of the initiation of the environmental assessment for the planned capacity increase of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant, the three major environmental NGOs *) based in the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen have vowed their opposition to the plan.
(Gronauer Nachrichten May 2, 2002)
*) Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND), Landesgemeinschaft Naturschutz und Umwelt (LNU), Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU).
> View the NGO's news release (May 3, 2002) (in German)
> Download NGO's statement (April 30, 2002) (23k PDF in German)
Capacity increased
At the end of 2000, total installed capacity at Urenco's enrichment plants in The Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Germany is approaching 4.8 million SWU per year. (UI News Briefing 00.50, Dec. 13, 2000)
On Dec. 2, 1999, around 40 protestors blocked the transport of UF6 cylinders at the gate of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant. The transport consisted of 12 cylinders of natural UF6, originating from the conversion plant in Pierrelatte, France. The cylinders arrived by train at the railway terminal in Nordhorn and were then trucked 25 km to Gronau. One protestor was arrested, 26 others face charges with violations of the right of assembly. (Gronauer Nachrichten Dec. 3, 1999)
200 people from Germany and the Netherlands gathered on October 3, 1999 at Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant to call for an immediate phase-out of nuclear energy. Considering the criticality accident at the Tokai nuclear fuel plant in Japan, speakers warned of the hazards of uranium hexafluoride processing, and called for an inclusion of the plant in the government plans for nuclear phase-out.
> see also: URENCO Gronau plans another 122% capacity increase
Urenco will hold a public meeting on January 31, 2002 on the planned capacity increase:
Über die geplante Erweiterung der Urananreicherungsanlage auf 4000 Tonnen Trennarbeit/Jahr will die Geschäftsleitung der Firma Urenco Deutschland GmbH die Gronauer Bürger während einer öffentlichen Veranstaltung am Donnerstag, den 31. Januar 2002 informieren. Stattfinden soll der Informationsabend in der Aula des Werner-von-Siemens-Gymnasiums (Adresse: Laubstiege 23). (Gronauer Nachrichten 23.1.02)
Urenco Deutschland has formally applied for a licence to increase the capacity of the Gronau centrifuge enrichment plant to 4000 t SWU/yr. The current plant has a capacity of 1000 t SWU, which Urenco plans to increase by 800 t SWU under existing licences. Urenco announced plans to build a new 1500 t SWU plant at the site several months ago but has now revised the capacity of the new plant to 2200 t SWU. (NuclearFuel, 5 October 1998)
The license application also includes the construction of two buildings for the storage of depleted uranium as oxide (details here).
On May 28, 1998, Urenco announced that it is planning to increase the capacity of its Gronau enrichment plant by 1500 t/year uranium separation work (SWU).
On Oct. 31, 1997, Urenco's Gronau facility, the only uranium enrichment plant in Germany, received a license to increase its capacity from 1000 to 1800 t/year
uranium separation work (SWU).
> View license text (in German)
In September 1997, the Higher Administrative Court of
Münster had turned down an application filed by a citizen
group to conduct a referendum against the plan.
The previous capacity increase had been licensed in 1994,
allowing for a nearly doubling from 530 to 1000 t/year SWU. The
1000 t/year capacity will only be attained in early 1998.
On Nov. 28, 1997, the Higher Administrative Court of
Münster turned down a case filed by a Green Party member of
the city council of Gronau against the 1994 license.
Capacity also is being increased in Urenco's other plants: in
the end of 1997, the first modules of a new plant in Capenhurst
(UK) went into operation; and the capacity of 1500 t/year SWU of the Almelo plant (The Netherlands) is being expanded by 2000 t/year SWU.
Aerial view: Google Maps
Note: the Lingen nuclear fuel plant is not covered by Germany's nuclear phase-out.
Demonstration for shutdown of Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant in Lingen
On Oct. 26, 2024, about 100 people demonstrated against the continued operation of Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant and the proposed production of fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants.
(NOZ Oct. 26, 2024)
In spite of Ukraine war, transport of uranium pellets from Russia arrives at Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant (Germany)
It is now clear what the Baltiyksiy-202, a Russian nuclear transport ship, brought to Rotterdam [The Netherlands] on October 6: Uranium pellets for the ANF nuclear fuel factory in Lingen, Germany. This is evident from an updated transport overview on the website of the German supervisory authority BASE .
(Laka Oct. 24, 2024)
Transport of enriched uranium hexafluoride from Russia arrives at Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant (Germany)
The Russian ship Baltiyskiy-202 arrived at the port of Rotterdam (The Netherlands) on Feb. 8, 2024. Three trucks then transported twelve cylinders with uranium enriched in Russia to the ANF nuclear fuel plant in Lingen, Germany.
(Laka Feb. 9, 2024)
Demonstration in Lingen for shutdown of Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant
On Jan. 20, 2024, 110 people demonstrated against the continued operation of Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant and the proposed production of fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants.
(NOZ Jan. 20, 2024)
Groups oppose proposed export of residual enriched uranium material from ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant (Germany) to Russia
The fuel element factory in Lingen, which belongs to the French Framatome group, is planning to export enriched uranium dioxide to Russia. The Federal Environment Ministry has confirmed a request from opponents of nuclear power that an application "for the export of nuclear fuel residues" is currently being examined.
The uranium dioxide is to be transported to the company "MSZ Machinery Manufacturing, Joint-Stock Company" (MSZ JSC), which is part of the Russian state-owned company Rosatom. Rosatom is a civil-military conglomerate with no clear dividing lines. As a paper by the 2021 Alternative Nobel Prize winner Vladimir Slivjak, commissioned by [NGO] Ausgestrahlt, stated, the Russian state-owned company is directly and indirectly involved in the war against Ukraine.
(taz Nov. 4, 2023)
In spite of Ukraine war, German regulator issues transport license for 32 transports of uranium pellets from Russia to ANF nuclear fuel plant (Germany)
> View here
In spite of Ukraine war, German regulator issues transport license for 40 transports of enriched uranium hexafluoride from Russia to ANF nuclear fuel plant (Germany)
> View here
Dutch regulator issues license for transit of enriched uranium from ANF nuclear fuel plant (Germany) to Russia
Last week, the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) issued another permit for the transit via the Netherlands of enriched uranium from the factory in Lingen, Germany, to Russia.
The transit permit now issued by the ANVS concerns "non-irradiated nuclear fuel in the form of scrap of fuel elements containing enriched uranium dioxide (UO2) originating from Advanced Nuclear Fuels GmbH in Lingen (Germany) and destined for MSZ Machinery Manufacturing Plant JSC in Elektrostal (Russian Federation)". If no provisional provision is requested, the permit is valid from October 4 to August 23, 2026. It concerns 5 transports, each with a maximum of 72 packages (parcels).
(Laka Aug. 29, 2023)
Demonstration in Lingen for shutdown of Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant
On April 15, the day of the final shutdown of the Lingen nuclear power plant, about 100 people demonstrated against the continued operation of Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant, which is not included in Germany's nuclear phase-out.
(Die Zeit Apr. 15, 2023)
Objectors' security concerns over proposed production of fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants at Framatome's ANF Lingen plant confirmed many times:
Shortly before the end of the three-day hearing on the expansion of the Framatome ANF fuel element factory in Lingen with the participation of the Russian nuclear authority Rosatom, the anti-nuclear organizations see their concerns confirmed. The company representatives evaded the objectors' questions on many key issues. They also admitted to alarming security gaps in their dealings with Rosatom:
- Framatome ANF admitted that around 20 Rosatom employees stayed in Lingen for several weeks in the spring and trained around 20 Framatome employees. According to Framatome, however, no security checks were carried out on Rosatom employees.
- It turned out that Framatome is relying solely on cooperation with the Kremlin company Rosatom, which is personally subordinate to President Putin. Cooperation with other fuel element manufacturers who are already able to produce Russian-type fuel elements was not considered.
- It is now also becoming apparent that the licensed cooperation with Rosatom could continue in the long term. Framatome's previous statement that the cooperation was only a "short-term" interim solution has thus been revised.
- Framatome representatives did not respond to persistent questions about Framatome's relationship with Ukraine and the military occupation of the Ukrainian Zaporizhia nuclear power plant with the participation of Rosatom.
- Framatome had to admit that the alleged independent production of VVER fuel elements under license mainly consists of the mere final assembly of the preliminary products manufactured by Russia. The majority of the fuel rods will also most likely be delivered from Russia fully welded. This opens up countless possibilities to manipulate and sabotage fuel elements and thus cause damage to the nuclear power plants supplied.
(IPPNW Nov. 22, 2024)
Hearing opened on proposed production of hexagonal PWR fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants at Framatome's ANF Lingen plant:
On the first day of the hearing on the application to expand the fuel element factory in Lingen, many critical questions were asked. Lingen-based Advanced Nuclear Fuels GmbH (ANF), a subsidiary of the French Framatome Group, plans to produce fuel elements for Russian reactor types located in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia from next year. To this end, Framatome entered into a cooperation with the Russian state-owned company Rosatom in 2021.
In order to approve the application, the state government had documents on the project made available to the public at the beginning of the year. Around 11,000 objections were raised against it. 143 objectors took part in the discussion.
(Süddeutsche Zeitung Nov. 20, 2024)
Hearing to be held on proposed production of hexagonal PWR fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants at Framatome's ANF Lingen plant:
The Lower Saxony Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate Protection is currently planning a hearing as part of the public participation in the nuclear licensing procedure, which is to take place in Lingen from 19 to 22 November 2024. The objections raised in due time following the public display of the documents are to be discussed. Around 11,000 objections were raised between the beginning of January and the beginning of March 2024.
(NMU July 22, 2024)
Framatome secretly installs machinery for production of Russian-designed fuel elements in former furniture store, while license still pending:
In expanding its production range to include fuel rods for nuclear reactors of Russian and Soviet design, the operator of the Lingen fuel element factory, Framatome-ANF, is creating further facts before the official decision on a permit. The company has rented a hall in the Lower Saxony city away from the actual company premises and set up machines imported from Russia there, with which the new fuel elements will be assembled in the future.
Framatome-ANF confirmed on Friday (June 28) corresponding research by opponents of nuclear power in response to an enquiry by taz. The Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment had been "informed of the address of the hall with the machines," a spokesman said.
The ministry must now decide on the application to expand the factory.
(taz June 28, 2024)
Framatome obtains EU funding for production of hexagonal PWR fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants:
On June 20, 2024, Framatome announced that it has received financial support from the European Union to accelerate the development and delivery of a 100% sovereign European fuel for the VVER pressurized water reactors operated in Europe.
Funded under the Euratom Research and Training Programme, Framatome Safe and Alternative VVER European Project - the "SAVE" project - for VVER 440 fuel will benefit from EUR 10 million in EU contributions.
Plans on display for proposed production of hexagonal PWR fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants at Framatome's ANF Lingen plant:
The plans for the proposed production of hexagonal PWR [Pressurized Water Reactor] fuel elements for Russian-designed VVER nuclear power plants in Eastern Europe at the ANF Lingen plant are on display from Jan. 4 to March 3, 2024.
Objections can be submitted until March 3, 2024.
> Download: Public Notice, Dec. 20, 2023 (Nds. MBl. Nr. 48/2023 S.1126-1127) (PDF - in German)
> Access Sachstandsinformation Brennelementfertigungsanlage (BFL), Lingen/Ems (NMU - in German)
Local antinuclear group Bündnis AgieEL has prepared a collective objection against the proposal:
> Download: Sammeleinwendung gegen den Ausbau der Brennelementfabrik Lingen (PDF - in German)
Framatome plans joint venture with Rosatom to produce fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants in Eastern Europe at its ANF Lingen plant:
After a long period of confusion, it is now clear that the French nuclear company Framatome, which operates the fuel element factory "Advanced Nuclear Fuels" (ANF) in Lingen, Lower Saxony, is entering into a joint venture with the Russian state-owned company Rosatom. The factory, which was recently underutilized, can in future also supply fuel rods for nuclear reactors of Russian design.
The Lower Saxony Ministry of the Environment essentially confirmed a corresponding report in the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung on Wednesday (Mar. 29). The joint venture between Framatome and the Russian Rosatom subsidiary TVEL was not founded in Germany as initially planned, but in France, said a ministry spokesman.
(taz Mar. 30, 2023)
On Sep. 4, 2023, the German Federal Environmental Ministry answered an inquiry by the environmental organization ausgestrahlt e.V. as follows:
Framatome has held negotiations with the Russian license holder for VVER fuel assemblies regarding the license production of VVER fuel assemblies and has already selected ANF as the production site in this phase, whereupon planning began at ANF to create the technical requirements for the production of VVER fuel assemblies. After the negotiations were concluded, "European Hexagonal Fuels S.A.S.", based in Lyon (France), was founded to handle license production. No further information is available here about the joint venture "European Hexagonal Fuels S.A.S."
The application for a permit to manufacture VVER fuel elements in accordance with Section 7 of the AtG [German Nuclear Law] to the responsible licensing authority, the NMU [Lower Saxony State Environmental Ministry], was submitted on March 10, 2022. The requested scope of changes includes changes to manufacturing and testing facilities to enable the production of the hexagonal fuel assemblies.
For this purpose, some new machines and systems in the area of fuel rod and fuel element production must be installed in the production building and existing systems must be modified in order to be able to comply with the licensor's requirements.
ANF is a wholly owned subsidiary of the French Framatome. There is no knowledge that a change in this regard is intended.
(Antwort des Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz vom 4.9.2023 auf die Anfrage von ausgestrahlt e.V. vom 15.8.2023 )
Demonstration in Lingen for shutdown of nuclear power plant and Framatome's ANF nuclear fuel plant
About 115 people demonstrated in Lingen on Saturday (Jan. 21) against the operation of the Emsland nuclear power plant [and the nuclear fuel plant].
(NDR Jan. 21, 2023)
Demonstration on roof of Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant
Opponents of nuclear power gained access to the site of the ANF fuel element factory in Lingen on New Year's Eve and occupied the roof of a factory building there for around three hours. At the same time, demonstrations were also held at the Emsland nuclear power plant.
(NOZ Jan. 1, 2023)
Fuel rods produced at Framatome's ANF Lingen plant could end up in China
Uranium fuel rods from a factory in Lingen have apparently been able to end up in China via a detour since the beginning of December, "Der Spiegel" reports, citing government insiders and documents from the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (Base) and the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (Bafa).
The linchpin of the business is therefore a factory in the Kazakh city of Ust-Kamenogorsk [Ulba]. It went into operation in November 2021 and is 51 percent owned by the subsidiary of a partly state-owned Kazakh nuclear company [Kazatomprom] and 49 percent by a Chinese state-owned company [CGN]. The system uses technology from a French state-owned company [Framatome]. Its German subsidiary operates the nuclear factory in Lingen.
The Kazakh-Chinese company combines uranium fuel rods like those from Lingen into so-called fuel elements and has been supplying them to China since early December 2022, reports the magazine. Since January 2021, the Base and Bafa have approved the transport of fuel rods to Kazakhstan on several occasions. According to opponents of nuclear power, another batch could currently be traveling with a uranium freighter.
(dts Dec. 15, 2022)
The fuel rods from Lingen will ultimately be used in Chinese nuclear power plants of the state-owned nuclear company CGN. But the US government "suspended" the export of "radioactive materials" to CGN in the fall of 2021 on suspicion of possible military activity.
(IPPNW Dec. 15, 2022
Groups oppose Framatome's plan to produce fuel elements for Russian-designed nuclear power plants in Eastern Europe at its ANF Lingen plant
Anti-nuclear initiatives have criticized plans to expand production at the Lingen fuel element factory for Eastern European power plants. The company ANF, which belongs to the French Framatome group, intends to produce fuel rods in Lingen for Russian-designed nuclear power plants operated in Eastern Europe. According to the Environment Ministry in Hanover, the planned project would drastically reduce the dependence of the European nuclear industry on Russia.
(Süddeutsche Zeitung Dec. 8, 2022)
German Federal Environmental Ministry in favour of end to nuclear fuel production at Framatome's ANF Lingen plant
The Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) expressly advocates an end to the production of fuel elements for nuclear power plants in Germany: "From the point of view of the BMUV, with regard to the credibility of the German nuclear phase-out, it is generally necessary to end nuclear fuel production," the ministry countered to the Aktionsbündnis Münsterland gegen Atomanlagen in a letter that is available to the taz. However, it goes on to say that this would require a change in the legal situation.
(Die Tageszeitung Dec. 7, 2022)
Protest in Lingen (Germany) against Russian uranium imports
> View here
In spite of Ukraine war, shipment of enriched UF6 from Russia arrives at Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant (Germany)
> View here
Protest in Lingen (Germany) against Russian uranium imports into European Union
> View here
Dutch regulator allows transit shipment of enriched UO2 from Russia to Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant (Germany)
> View here
In spite of Ukraine war, shipment of enriched UF6 underway from Russia to Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant (Germany)
> View here
Dutch regulator allows shipment of enriched UF6 from Russia to Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant (Germany) through Dutch port
> View here
Rosatom withdraws application to enter joint venture for nuclear fuel fabrication at Framatome's ANF Lingen plant
The Rosatom subsidiary TVEL apparently no longer wants to participate in fuel element production in Lingen. The application from the Russian company is no longer available to his ministry, said Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck at a press conference on Thursday [Feb. 24]. The application was withdrawn a few days ago.
(heise.de Feb. 24, 2022)
126 groups demand that German government stops entry of Rosatom into nuclear fuel fabrication at Framatome's ANF Lingen plant
In a resolution, 126 organizations from Germany, France, Russia and several other European countries demand that the German government immediately stop the planned entry of the Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom into the fuel element production in Lingen.
(Sofa Münster Feb. 4, 2022)
150 demonstrate against Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant
Today, in cold and wet weather, about 150 people with participation from Russia and France demonstrated in Lingen for the closure of the nuclear fuel plant.
(SofA Münster Jan. 22, 2022)
Violation of criticality rules at Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant
The Lower Saxony Environmental Ministry was informed by the operator of the Lingen fuel assembly plant (BFL), Advanced Nuclear Fuels GmbH, about a reportable event. When tablets were transferred to a 20-liter container, the filling weight exceeded the value specified in the operating instructions due to defective filling weight monitoring. An employee immediately determined the excess and corrected the excess in accordance with the operating regulations.
The event was rated INES level 0.
(Niedersächsische Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie, Bauen und Klimaschutz Jan. 7, 2022)
German government abandons plan to prohibit nuclear fuel exports to ailing foreign reactors
The German federal government has abandoned plans to prohibit exports of nuclear fuel to ailing foreign reactors due to "concerns under European law and constitutional law", according to the government's answer to a parliamentary question.
> Download: Antwort der Bundesregierung auf die Kleine Anfrage der Abgeordneten Tobias Pflüger, Michel Brandt, Heike Hänsel, weiterer Abgeordneter und der Fraktion DIE LINKE. - Drucksache 19/30690 - Export von Kernbrennstoff an Atomkraftwerke im Ausland , Deutscher Bundestag, Drucksache 19/31241, 29.06.2021 (262kB PDF - in German)
80 groups oppose Framatome-TVEL joint venture for nuclear fuel fabrication at ANF Lingen plant
About 80 initiatives and associations from several European countries support a trinational resolution against the approval of a Russian-French nuclear cooperation by the German government for fuel element production in Lingen/Emsland. Instead, they demand an end to uranium processing and a de-nuclearization of Europe.
(IPPNW June 1, 2021)
> Download: Trinationale Erklärung "Kein Joint Venture Framatome Rosatom in Lingen" (228kB PDF - in German)
Framatome and TVEL to establish joint venture for fuel fabrication at ANF Lingen plant
A French and a Russian company want to jointly produce fuel elements for nuclear power plants in Lower Saxony. The Federal Cartel Office in Bonn announced that the French Framatome and the Russian TVEL submitted the corresponding application to set up a joint venture on February 12. Details of the project were not disclosed.
(dpa Feb. 26, 2021)
Court denies interim injunction on nuclear fuel exports from Germany to Switzerland, in spite of suit filed
On Feb. 12, 2021, the Frankfurt Administrative Court decided that the export license for nuclear fuel from the ANF Lingen plant to the Leibstadt nuclear power plant in Switzerland was immediately enforceable regardless of the objections filed in court. (Az.: 6 L 3232/20.F)
(dpa Feb. 12, 2021)
> Download: Verwaltungsgericht Frankfurt am Main press release, Feb. 12, 2021 (in German)
> View/Download Court opinion: Beschluss: Kein Verbandsklagerecht gegen den Export von Brennelementen , Verwaltungsgericht Frankfurt 6. Kammer, Feb. 12, 2021 (in German)
Framatome, again, exports nuclear fuel from its Lingen (Germany) plant without valid export license - now to ailing Doel reactors in Belgium
On Jan. 18, 19, 21, and probably 25, Framatome exported nuclear fuel from its Lingen (Germany) nuclear fuel plant to the nuclear reactors in Doel (Belgium), although the export license was suspended due to legal action by the German NGO BUND.
(Die Tageszeitung Jan. 27, 2021)
On Jan. 28, 2021, environmental groups filed a lawsuit against Framatome's German branch ANF Lingen and the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). (Umweltinstitut München Jan. 28, 2021)
The German Federal Ministry of Environment has confirmed that the latest exports of nuclear fuel from ANF Lingen to Switzerland and Belgium were illegal. (Hubertus Zdebel, MP, Feb. 9, 2021)
> Download: Drucksache 19/26440 , Deutscher Bundestag, 5.2.2021 (6.9MB PDF), p.128-129
Nuclear fuel exports from Germany to ailing reactors in Belgium on hold again, after group files suit
For the second time within a few months, Germany had to suspend the export of nuclear fuel rods from the Areva plant in Lingen to the Belgian power plants Doel 1 and 2 (near Antwerp).
The renewed suspension is now based on a lawsuit filed by the German Association for Environment and Nature Conservation Germany (BUND) - with almost 500,000 members the largest environmental organization in Germany - at the beginning of January against the export of 52 fuel rods from Lingen to the Doel nuclear power plant.
Until a new judgment, the objection of the BUND has suspensive effect and continues to prevent the transport of the fuel elements to Doel.
(Grenzecho Jan. 26, 2021)
Framatome sends two batches of nuclear fuel from its Lingen (Germany) plant to Switzerland without valid export license
In December 2020, two transports of nuclear fuel from Framatome's Lingen plant to the Swiss Leibstadt nuclear power plant took place, although the export license has been challenged in court, resulting in an interim injunction for the license, until a court decision is issued. The regional branch of the environmental organisation BUND has announced to bring charge against Framatome.
(Die Tageszeitung Jan. 12, 2021)
Framatome meanwhile announced to refrain from further exports to Leibstadt, until the matter has been decided in court.
(Die Tageszeitung Jan. 21, 2021)
The German Federal Ministry of Environment has confirmed that the latest exports of nuclear fuel from ANF Lingen to Switzerland and Belgium were illegal. (Hubertus Zdebel, MP, Feb. 9, 2021)
> Download: Drucksache 19/26440 , Deutscher Bundestag, 5.2.2021 (6.9MB PDF), p.128-129
Groups' appeal temporarily halts nuclear fuel export from Framatome's Lingen (Germany) plant to Switzerland
The planned export of 140 fuel elements from Framatome's nuclear fuel plant in Lingen, Germany, to the Leibstadt nuclear power plant in Switzerland has been temporarily halted after German environmental groups appealed the export license. The stay remains in place until a court decision is issued.
(Aargauer Zeitung Oct. 23, 2020)
Court places interim injunction on nuclear fuel exports from Germany to ailing reactors in Belgium, but appeals court lifts it
The Frankfurt administrative court has placed an interim injunction on nuclear fuel exports from the ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant to the ailing Doel 1 and 2 nuclear reactors in Belgium. The interim injunction is in place until a final court decision is made.
(SOFA Münster Oct. 19, 2020)
> View: Verwaltungsgericht Frankfurt 6. Kammer, Beschluß vom 16.10.2020
On Dec. 8, 2020, the Administrative Court of Hesse in Kassel decided that the lawsuit against the export license issued does not have suspensive effect. This decision lifts the interim injunction placed by the Frankfurt administrative court.
(Süddeutsche Zeitung Dec. 8, 2020)
> View: Pressemitteilung des VGH Kassel vom 8.12.2020 (in German)
Germany to stop nuclear fuel exports to ailing foreign reactors located near its borders
According to a draft amendment to the German nuclear law (Atomgesetz) prepared by the German Environmental Ministry, exports of nuclear fuel will no longer be permitted to nuclear power plants located at a distance of less than 150 km from the German border, if they started operation before 1989. Deliveries to the NPPs in Tihange and Doel (Belgium) and Cattenom (France) thus would no longer be allowed.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Dec. 5, 2019)
300 demonstrate against Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant and nuclear power plant
On Oct. 26, 2019, around 300 people held a demonstration in Lingen for the closure of Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant and the immediate shutdown of the Lingen nuclear power plant.
(NOZ Oct. 26, 2019)
Groups demand halt of nuclear fuel exports from Framatome Lingen plant (Germany) to Doel nuclear power plants (Belgium), after European Court ruled that prolonging life of the ailing reactors infringed European law
German anti-nuclear groups demanded an immediate stop of nuclear fuel exports from Framatome's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant to the ailing Belgian reactors Doel 1 and 2 near Antwerp, after the European Court of Justice had ruled on July 29, 2019, that the Belgian law extending the operating life of nuclear power stations Doel 1 and Doel 2 was adopted without the required environmental assessments being carried out first and thus infringed European law.
(NOZ Aug. 6, 2019)
Largest Hamburg port operator to handle last nuclear fuel shipment
The nuclear freighter "Link Star" has arrived at the Hamburg port to load the last shipment of nuclear fuel for HHLA, the largest port operator in Hamburg. The fuel was produced in ANF's Lingen plant and is destined for Finland.
In April 2018, HHLA and Hapag Lloyd had committed to end all nuclear fuel transports via the Hamburg port.
(NDR Mar. 29, 2019)
Activists stage blockade of Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant
On Jan. 21, 2019, at 5:30 AM, twelve anti-nuclear activists started a blockade of the access road to Framatome's Lingen nuclear fuel plant. Police ended the blockade around 10:30 AM.
(NOZ Jan. 21, 2019)
Demonstration against Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant and nuclear power plant
On Jan. 19, 2019, around 180 people held a demonstration in Lingen for the closure of Framatome's Lingen nuclear fuel plant and the immediate shutdown of the Lingen nuclear power plant.
(NOZ Jan. 19, 2019)
Demonstration against Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant and nuclear power plant
On Dec. 13, 2018, around 100 people held a demonstration in Lingen for the closure of Framatome's Lingen nuclear fuel plant and the immediate shutdown of the Lingen nuclear power plant.
(NOZ Dec. 13, 2018)
Fire in Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant
At 19:43 hrs on Dec. 6, 2018, fire brigades were alarmed to respond to a fire in the nuclear fuel production. The fire was extinguished around 22:00 hrs.
(NOZ Dec. 6, 2018)
According to plant manager Andreas Hoff, the fire occured in an evaporator used to recover uranium ("some hundred grams") from liquids.
All operations at the plant are suspended until further notice.
(NOZ Dec. 7, 2018)
According to the Lower Saxony state Ministry of Environment , the fire presumably was preceded by the explosion of approx. 55 litres of hydrogen that had unexpectedly formed during the vaporization of uranium-containing water.
(NOZ Dec. 11, 2018)
Plant manager Andreas Hoff and his deputy Jürgen Krämer stressed that there was no explosion but a deflagration (weak explosion).
(NOZ Dec. 13, 2018)
According to Lothar Grosser of the Lower Saxony state Ministry of Environment, the investigations conducted during the week after the fire showed that two of four heaters of a vaporizer overheated. When the ventilation system got clogged up with the resulting smoulder gas, the heaters ignited the gas/air mixture, damaging the housing of the vaporizer and releasing the smoke that set off the fire alarm. The formation of hydrogen is now regarded as a rather unlikely hypothesis. In addition, approx. one cubic metre of "mineralized" water spilled from a pipe that was damaged during the fire. According to current knowledge, this water was not contaminated with uranium.
(NOZ Dec. 18, 2018)
According to the Lower Saxony state Ministry of Environment, monitoring of the plant's surroundings has confirmed that the fire has caused no contamination outside the plant.
(NOZ Dec. 21, 2018)
On Feb. 4, 2019, the Lower Saxony state Ministry of Environment announced that the plant may now resume normal operations.
Cracks detected in autoclave in Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant
During periodical checks, cracks were detected in an autoclave used in the dry conversion plant of the Lingen nuclear fuel plant. According to the state ministry of environment, the event is rated level 0 on the INES scale.
(NOZ Dec. 5, 2018)
Accumulation of humidity detected in Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant
Due to a malfunction of the plant's steam supply, an accumulation of humidity was detected in the dry conversion facility of Framatome's Lingen nuclear fuel plant.
(NOZ Nov. 7, 2018)
Framatome to relocate uranium dioxide (UO2) production from its Lingen (Germany) site to Orano's Malvési site (France) in 2021
On June 28, 2018, the prefect of the Occitana region issued a decision related to Orano's proposal to construct a plant for the production of 300 t uranium dioxide (UO2) per year at its Malvési site near Narbonne in France.
The purpose of the proposal is to "relocate on French territory the production of uranium dioxide (UO2) used in the manufacture of nuclear fuels, in order to have a sustainable and controlled supply after the shutdown of production (in 2021) at the Lingen site in Germany."
> Download: Décision DREAL Occitanie , June 28, 2018 (114kB PDF - in French)
[The uranium dioxide in question apparently is depleted uranium that is used for MOX fuel production at Orano's Marcoule plant.]
Demonstration against Framatome Lingen nuclear fuel plant and nuclear power plant
On June 9, 2018, hundreds of participants held a demonstration in Lingen to demand the shutdown of Framatome's Lingen nuclear fuel plant and the Lingen nuclear power plant (AKW Emsland).
(NDR June 9, 2018)
350 demonstrate for closure of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant and Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
On Sep. 9, 2017, 350 people demonstrated in Lingen for the shutdown of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant and Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant.
(NOZ Sep. 9, 2017)
Leak in autoclave at Areva's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel manufacturing plant
During operation of the dry conversion plant, a fissure in an autoclave caused a leak. The autoclave has been taken out of operation.
(Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie und Klimaschutz May 18, 2017)
Greenpeace holds blockade of Areva's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel manufacturing plant
Protesting against the export of nuclear fuel elements to European nuclear power plants, Greenpeace held a blockade of the access road to Areva's ANF nuclear fuel manufacturing plant in Lingen for almost 12 hours on May 10, 2017.
(NOZ May 10, 2017)
Lower Saxony state minister of environment endorses plan to close German nuclear fuel facilities
Lower Saxony state minister of environment Stefan Wenzel endorsed the announcement of federal environment minister Barbara Hendricks to explore the legal possibilities for a closure of Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant and Areva's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel manufacturing plant (the latter being located in Lower Saxony). Both of these plants are not covered by the German nuclear phase-out policy.
(Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie und Klimaschutz, April 3, 2017)
Federal Government of Germany continues to issue transport licenses for nuclear fuel to ailing Belgian reactors Doel and Tihange - in spite of own demand for their shutdown
In spite of all doubts about the safety of the Belgian Tihange 2 nuclear power plant, new fuel rods [produced at Areva's Lingen plant] have been delivered from Germany to the reactor located near the German border town of Aachen. A total of 50 transports to the Belgian Doel and Tihange power plants has been licensed by the German Federal Government according to a list of the Federal Office for Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BfE). 17 of these transports have already taken place.
North Rhine-Westphalia state environmental minister Johannes Remmel criticized these licenses that were issued in spite of the Federal Government's demand for a shutdown of these ailing reactors.
(Frankfurter Rundschau Mar. 28, 2017)
> Download list of Current transport licenses (BfE)
700 demonstrate for closure of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant and Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant
On Oct. 29, 2016, 700 people demonstrated in Lingen for the shutdown of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant and Urenco's Gronau enrichment plant.
(NOZ Oct. 29, 2016)
German government discloses export licenses issued in 2011 - 2016 for nuclear fuel from Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel manufacturing plant
Between 2011 and July 2016, 102 export licenses have been issued for nuclear fuel from Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant.
> Download: Bundestags-Drucksache 18/9747 , Sep. 23, 2016 (181k PDF - in German)
Resolution signed by 185 initiatives demands shutdown of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant
On March 2, 2016, activists handed a resolution demanding the shutdown of the ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant over to the Niedersachsen state government. The appeal was signed by 185 organizations from Niedersachsen and neighbouring states.
(Die Welt Mar. 2, 2016)
Blockade of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
In the morning of Feb. 1, 2016, about 20 activists started a blockade of the access road to Areva's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant.
(NOZ Feb. 1, 2016)
Demonstration for closure of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
On Jan. 31, 2016, about 130 people demonstrated for the closure of Areva's ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant. They also protested against the export of nuclear fuel bundles from the plant to the flaw-plagued Belgian reactor of Doel.
(NOZ Jan. 31, 2016)
Blockade of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
On Sep. 28, 2015, anti nuclear activists held a blockade of the access road to Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant for six hours.
(taz Sep. 29, 2015)
Protestors demand closure of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
More than 50 people demanded the closure of the ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant during a demonstration held in front of the facility on Nov. 30, 2014. Participants included activists from France, the Netherlands, and Russia.
(Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung Nov. 30, 2014)
Groups demand immediate closure of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
More than 50 environmental organisations and anti-nuclear groups, including Greenpeace, Robin Wood and Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND), demand the immediate shutdown of Areva's ANF plant in Lingen, currently Germany's only nuclear fuel plant. They point out that the plant suffers from ageing problems.
(Tageszeitung Nov. 27, 2014)
State government not to push for phase-out of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
The state of Niedersachsen will not push for the closure of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant, according to state environmental minister Stefan Wenzel (Green Party). The plant is not covered by Germany's nuclear phase-out policy.
(Grafschafter Nachrichten Nov. 6 2014)
Fissure causes partial halt of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
A fissure in a rotary kiln used to heat uranium hexafluoride has led to a partial halt of the dry conversion operations in Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant. The fissure presumably is the result of ageing.
(Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie und Klimaschutz, Niedersachsen, Nov. 5 2014)
Blockade of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
On Oct. 14, 2014, 20 protestors held a blockade of the access road to Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant for four hours. They demanded the closure of the plant which is not covered by Germany's nuclear phase-out.
(SOFA Oct. 15, 2014)
Blockade of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
On the early morning of July 25, 2013, anti-nuclear activists started a blockade of Areva's nuclear fuel plant in Lingen. The activists protested against the continued operation of the plant, in spite of Germany's commitment to a nuclear phase-out.
(Focus July 25, 2013)
Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant passes stress test
> Download Stress test results , March 14, 2013 (BMUB - in German)
Protests in front of Areva's Lingen nuclear fuel plant
Around 15 anti-nuclear activists held a protest this morning in front of the Lingen nuclear fuel plant. They demanded the shutdown of the plant in view of the nuclear phase-out in Germany.
(Robin Wood Oct. 11, 2012)
Rumors growing that Areva plans layoffs at ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant
According to the Internet site L'Expansion, Areva plans layoffs at the ANF Lingen nuclear fuel plant as part of a massive restructuring program that is to be set up in reaction to a drop in demand caused by the German nuclear phase-out and the Fukushima disaster.
(Le Monde Oct. 18, 2011)
Greens demand change of nuclear law to limit life of ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant
Greens are demanding a change of German nuclear law to limit the life of the Gronau enrichment plant and Lingen nuclear fuel plant. The nuclear phase out only covers the nuclear reactors in the country, while the other nuclear facilities have unlimited licenses. An expertise elaborated by the scientific service of the Bundestag (lower chamber of Federal Parliament) showed that these license cannot be limited afterwards, unless the nuclear law is changed.
(Westfälische Nachrichten Aug. 18, 2011)
Germany orders "stress test" for ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant
According to the answer of the Federal Ministry of Environment to a parliamentary question, the German government now has ordered so-called "stress tests" also for nuclear facilities other than power reactors, such as the Gronau enrichment plant, the Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant, research reactors, and the facilities for interim storage of spent fuel. As with the power reactors, the stress tests are to evaluate the hazards from plane crashes, earthquakes, oder power outages.
(WAZ Aug. 9, 2011)
ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant applies for capacity increase to 800 t/a
The ANF Lingen nuclear fuel fabrication plant has filed an application for a capacity increase of the deconversion plant from 650 to 800 t/a. (Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Umwelt und Klimaschutz, July 2008)
Export of radioactive waste to the US for uranium extration and incineration
> view details
> For Feldioara uranium mill, see here
Nuclearelectrica completes takeover of Feldioara uranium refinery:
Nuclearelectrica completed the transaction by which it takes over from the National Uranium Company the assets related to the technical processing line of the uranium concentrate of the E Refinery - Feldioara Branch, an operation worth over 29.1 million lei [US$ 6.27 million].
(profit.ro Dec. 28, 2022)
Competition Council approves takeover of Feldioara uranium refinery by Nuclearelectrica:
Romania's Competition Council announced that it authorized the transaction through which the energy producer Nuclearelectrica, which manages the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, takes over from the ailing National Uranium Company (CNU) the core asset, namely the uranium refining plant.
CNU went bankrupt after Nuclearelectrica refused to pay a higher price for the uranium powder and instead imported raw materials from Canada.
The refining plant was built for processing uranium concentrate and ensuring, exclusively, the necessary raw material for FCN Piteşti (a subsidiary of Nuclearelectrica) - which, in turn, produces nuclear fuel for Nuclearelectrica's reactors located at Cernavoda.
(Romania-Insider Nov. 19, 2021)
Romania's nuclear power plant operator SNN establishes Feldioara uranium concentrate processing subsidiary:
Nuclearelectrica [BSE:SNN], the operator of Romania's sole nuclear power plant (NPP) Cernavoda, said it has established its own uranium concentrate processing branch.
The new Uranium Concentrate Processing Factory-Feldioara will have the processing of nuclear fuels as its main line of business, Nuclearelectrica said in a statement filed with the Bucharest Stock Exchange, BVB, on Friday (Sep. 24).
Nuclearelectrica acquired some assets within the uranium concentrate processing line at the Feldioara Branch owned by the National Uranium Company, CNU, in March 2020.
(SeeNews Sep. 27, 2021)
Romania's nuclear power plant operator SNN takes over uranium concentrate processing line of CNU's Feldioara plant:
On Mar. 19, 2021, Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica S.A. (SNN) announced that it has signed with CNU the contract for the sale and purchase of assets within the uranium concentrate processing line at the Feldioara Branch of the CNU on March 18, 2021.
Following a due diligence analysis, SNN has identified the necessary assets that it will strategically integrate into the structure and thus SNN, by means of this transaction, will integrate the cycle of manufacture of CANDU nuclear fuel, except for mining activity.
On Mar. 25, 2021, the Romanian News Agency reported that Nuclearelectrica has concluded the transaction with Uranium National Company and has taken over the uranium oxide processing line from Uranium National Company S.A. Feldioara Branch.
National Uranium Company to be liquidated
> See here
Nuclearelectrica to double production capacity of Piteşti nuclear fuel plant
The state company Nuclearelectrica (SNN), the operator of the nuclear power plant in Cernavodă, wants to double the production capacity of its nuclear fuel plant (FCN) in Piteşti, in the perspective of building the new reactors 3 and 4 of the plant, the commissioning of which is expected for the years 2030-2031.
Currently, the factory in Piteşti has an authorized annual production capacity of 12,000 nuclear fuel rods, which ensures the consumption of the existing units 1 and 2 of the Cernavodă plant. SNN wants to double this capacity, to 24,000 rods per year.
(Profit.ro Aug. 1, 2023)
Piteşti nuclear fuel plant to double production from 2010
The nuclear fuel plant in Piteşti will double production between 2010 and 2011 to supply the nuclear fuel rods needed by the two new reactors of the Cernavodă power complex, informed Nuclearelectrica , the company supervising the plant.
A year before the Unit 3 starts to function, the plant will produce 15,000 nuclear fuel rods and before the Unit 4 is completed, it will climb to 20,000 rods. The plant produced last year 9,360 rods.
(Realitatea Apr. 16, 2009)
Safety violation at Juzbado nuclear fuel plant
The owner of the Juzbado nuclear fuel factory (Salamanca) has notified the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), following the established procedure, that early Saturday morning (May 4) it was detected that a fire door was open improperly.
(CSN May 6, 2024)
Nuclear fuel for Russian-designed plants in Europe to be manufactured in Spain and Sweden
ENUSA has announced that they will add a new fuel manufacturing line in collaboration with Westinghouse: both companies will collaborate to manufacture fuel for VVER-440 reactors, of Soviet design. The objective is to provide "a real alternative in the supply of fuel", reducing "dependence on the current supplier", according to a statement referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The fuel will be made in Juzbado and at the Westinghouse factory in Västerås, Sweden.
The European countries that currently have nuclear reactors with this technology are Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Finland.
(Libre Mercado Jan. 30, 2023)
Violation of criticality rules at Juzbado nuclear fuel plant
The owner of the Juzbado (Salamanca) nuclear fuel factory has informed the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), following the established procedure, that in the cleaning process prior to a planned repair in one of the homogenizers, it detected a rate of high dose in the equipment, identifying that the cause was the accumulation of powdered nuclear material in a hidden cavity of the homogenizer.
The licensee proceeded to the extraction of the accumulated material, and its storage, to carry out the control of the parameters established in the Safety Study on criticality of nuclear material (moderation, mass and geometry). Although one of them -moderation- was outside the limits established in the Safety Study (which is why the event is reported), it has been verified that it is covered by the analyzes included in the Factory Criticality Study; the other two parameters have not been affected.
(CSN Nov. 13, 2020)
The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), after reviewing the data obtained after different inspections and evaluations, has classified the event as level 1. (CSN Dec. 16, 2020)
Violation of criticality rules at Juzbado nuclear fuel plant
The holder of the fuel assembly factory of Juzbado (Salamanca) has informed the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), following the regulatory procedure, that the replacement of a detector deactivated the optical and acoustic alarms of the criticality alarm system. In compliance with the Technical Operating Specifications (ETF), the movement of nuclear material in the affected areas was stopped, except in the PWR (Presurized Water Reactor) sintering room, where three ovens and oxidation equipment were operating. This has entailed a breach of the limit condition of operation of the system and of the associated action of the ETFs.
The event, which has had no impact on workers, the public or the environment, is classified at level 0 (below the scale) in the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES).
(CSN Sep. 11, 2018)
Violation of criticality rules at Juzbado nuclear fuel plant
Enusa 's Juzbado nuclear fuel plant has notified the nuclear regulator Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear of a reportable event, in which a container was filled with more than the permissible 30 kgs of uranium pellets. The situation was soon corrected and the incident did not have any impacts.
(ABC Sep. 16, 2011)
Juzbado nuclear fuel plant partly closed after fire
In the afternoon of Saturday (Sep. 18), a small fire caused the shutdown of the production in part of Enusa's nuclear fuel factory in Juzbado (Salamanca).
The small fire, that was extinguished with extinguisher, occured in the lubrication oil of the bearing of an extraction ventilator, and activated a fire alarm in the BWR fuel tablet processing area.
According to Enusa, the incident has not presented any hazard to the installation, the workers, the residents, or the environment.
(La Voz de Galicia Sep. 20, 2010)
Spanish Supreme Court confirms Euro 1 million fine for Enusa for negligence leading to inadvertent transport of nuclear fuel to the USA
The Room of Contentious Affairs of the Supreme Court has confirmed four fines at an approximated total amount of one million Euros to the National Company of Uranium (Enusa) for "serious infractions" in the physical protection of nuclear fuels, among others. The sentence of the Supreme Court, that brings an end to a procedure initiated by the Minister of Industry and Energy in 1997, confirms that Enusa, a public company, showed a "negligent behavior" and "it produced a risk relative to the physical security of the nuclear material that could have been stolen or got lost".
The sentence of the Supreme Court indicates that all the sanctions were related to the irregular execution of an operation of transport of containers from the factory of nuclear fuel components at Juzbado (Salamanca) to Wilmington (USA). The breach of the protocol of the production processes led to the transport of three containers with uranium oxide to the USA, together with 147 empty ones. However, all 150 containers should have gone to General Electric's Wilmington factory empty. General Electric informed the authorities of the USA, the European Union, and Spain about the incident. Two department heads and four employees of the factory were dismissed.
(El País Dec. 29, 2009)
Westinghouse Electric Sweden
Nuclear fuel for Russian-designed plants in Europe to be manufactured in Spain and Sweden
> View here
Toshiba's nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co declares bankrupt
> View here
Westinghouse expands VVER fuel production capacity at Västerås
On April 28, 2016, Westinghouse Electric Company announced the expansion of its nuclear fuel factory in Västerås, Sweden. The US-based firm, which is majority-owned by Japan's Toshiba, said the expansion is a response to growing demand for nuclear fuel supply diversification for VVER-1000 reactors in Europe.
Five countries - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary and Slovakia - operate VVER-design reactors (four VVER-1000 and 14 VVER-440 type reactors).
A Westinghouse spokesman said that the company was investing "tens of millions of dollars" in expanding the Swedish factory.
"The expansion work is almost complete and we expect everything to be 100% operational in the fall," he said, declining to give the size of the expansion.
(WNN Apr. 29, 2016)
Deficiencies in radiation protection at Westinghouse Västerås nuclear fuel plant
The Westinghouse nuclear fuel plant in Västerås has reported deficiencies in radiation protection. The company has found traces of uranium in towels and overalls used in one of the company laboratories, according to the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM).
According to SSM, levels are not so high as to constitute a health hazard to humans. But the authority is still critical.
It might not be the levels themselves that are the most serious, but it indicates a lack of accuracy and some poor control on the management of the facility, said Eric Häggblom who is Inspector of Radiation Safety.
The authority has now decided that Westinghouse must measure the level of radioactivity in all textiles used before they leave the company area.
By December 9, the company shall submit a report describing the incident and the steps the company has implemented and is planning to implement.
It is still unclear what caused the uranium contamination detected.
(Sveriges Radio Nov. 15, 2011)
Container not completely emptied at Västerås plant leads to UF6 exposure of worker in receiving plant
On Jan. 29, 2010, the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) confirmed that a supposedly clean uranium shipping container had left the Västerås plant only partially emptied and cleaned, which led to the exposure of a worker with uranium hexafluoride at the receiving Urenco Gronau enrichment plant in Germany on Jan. 21, 2010. Westinghouse now has 30 days to describe the incident in writing and the action it intends to take to prevent such events from reoccuring.
> See details of the incident at Urenco Gronau
Excessive uranium levels found in urine of Westinghouse Västerås fuel facility workers
Employees at the Westinghouse fuel factory in Västerås may have been exposed to high doses of uranium.
When the company investigated the uranium levels in urine of the workers, it was discovered that there is a risk that more uranium accumulated in their bodies than previously thought.
The Radiation Safety Authority is investigating now how Westinghouse is dealing with the risk of inhaling uranium dust that is formed in the manufacturing process.
(Sveriges Radio Nov. 13, 2009)
Excess amounts of uranium dumped on municipal dump in Sweden
Ranstad Mineral AB's uranium-processing plant has dumped excess amounts of uranium on the nearby municipal Risängen dump site which is located in the community of Skövde. 1500 kg rather than the licensed amount of 400 kg of uranium was dumped on behalf of Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB.
> View SSI release, Feb. 17, 2005 (in Swedish)
> View SSI release, Oct. 21, 2005 (in Swedish)
Waste containing plutonium from the dismantling of the former nuclear fuel plant of Siemens in Hanau, Germany, ends up on a municipal dumping ground near Ranstad in central Sweden.
40 metric tonnes of material have been delivered from Siemens to Ranstad Mineral AB. According to a Swedish parliament resolution, the import of radioactive waste into the country is prohibited in principle, but this material is classified as useful residues.
At Ranstad Mineral AB's uranium-processing plant (a former uranium mill), residual uranium is recovered from the Hanau material. After the extraction of the uranium, the material was dumped on the nearby municipal Risängen dump site which is located in the community of Skövde.
In April 2000 it was found that the plutonium concentrations in samples from dumped waste originating from treated Hanau material exceeded the admissible limit of 100 Bq/kg tenfold. The Swedish Radiation Protection Institute (SSI) then prohibited further dumping of this material.
In December 2000 however, Westinghouse Atom AB, the licensee for the dumping, illegally continued dumping of at least five further batches of the material.
SSI then investigated whether Westinghouse Atom AB might have penal responsibility for breaching the Radiation Protection Law. According to the law, a minor breach does not imply penal responsibility. And, SSI considered the breach minor, since no hazards to humans or the environment had occured.
(Der Spiegel / BBC Monitoring Service Apr. 29, 2002; Dagens Nyheter May 4, 2002; SSI documents)
> See also
> more Hanau decommissioning issues
Swiss reactors use reprocessed Russian military uranium
According to investigations performed by Swiss paper Handelszeitung, the Swiss nuclear power plants at Gösgen and Beznau use reprocessed uranium from Russian military sources, such as decommissioned submarines or ice breakers. Neither the utilities Axpo and Alpiq, nor fuel manufacturer Areva know the exact origin of the highly enriched uranium.
(Handelszeitung Sep. 26, 2012)
Swiss reactors use fuel re-enriched in Russian Seversk plant
> See Seversk enrichment plant waste disposal scheme puts drinking water at risk
Swiss reactors use fuel reprocessed in Russian Mayak plant
Gösgen nuclear power plant to use fresh fuel from Canadian uranium rather than recycled fuel from Russian Mayak reprocessing plant:
The operator of the Gösgen nuclear power plant has announced the decision to procure the uranium for its fuel in future from Canadian uranium mines. The enrichment will take place in Urenco's plants in Europe, and the fuel will be manufactured by Areva.
(sda July 15, 2014)
Swiss utility stands by decision to halt use of nuclear fuel originating from Russian Mayak reprocessing plant - in view of inconclusive results of environmental surveys:
On Jan. 24, 2014, Axpo Holding AG made the decision to dispense with uranium deliveries from Mayak for the production of fuel elements for its reactors in Beznau. The decision is based on surveys carried out on behalf of Axpo in Russia. Axpo suspended uranium deliveries from Mayak in 2011 until new measurements could be carried out to create transparency regarding the environmental impacts of the current production methods.
Measurements taken in the area surrounding the Mayak nuclear facility near Chelyabinsk have not produced any clear-cut indications on whether current production methods violate environmental limits or not.
Between the spring of 2012 and spring 2013, Axpo ordered three independent radiological surveys to be carried out in the area around the Mayak production facility. The surveys were carried out by independent Russian scientists and experts from various laboratories. Furthermore, representatives from environmental organisations were present during measurements, and were able to send samples to a laboratory of their choice for evaluation. Results do not provide a clear indication that currently valid environmental levels are being exceeded through current operation, but cannot rule this out completely.
(Axpo Jan. 27, 2014)
Fact-finding mission of Swiss utility denied access to Russian Mayak reprocessing plant - again:
A planned visit of representatives of the Axpo energy group to the Mayak uranium reprocessing plant has been called off again. The visit was planned for mid-November, but has been postponed indefinitely for "still incomplete preparatory work" with Rosatom.
(Bieler Tagblatt Nov. 7, 2012)
Rosatom now concedes Swiss experts access to Mayak reprocessing plant:
Rosatom has changed its mind and promised to allow Swiss experts to inspect the Mayak reprocessing plant. A date for the visit has not been fixed yet, but is expected for the second half of 2012.
(Schweizer Fernsehen Aug. 23, 2012)
Leakages from Mayak reprocessing plant continued in recent years:
A 2006 document of the Chelyabinsk district court reveals that then Mayak director Vitali Sadovnikov failed to prevent the leakage of liquid radioactive waste into nearby rivers between 2000 and 2004. The strontium-90 standard was exceeded 10-fold. Rather than reparing the leaks, the director set aside company money for himself.
These events fall into a period, during which the plant did process fuel for use in Swiss nuclear power plants.
(Schweizer Fernsehen Feb. 8, 2012)
Swiss utility halts use of nuclear fuel originating from Russian Mayak reprocessing plant, in response to denial of site inspection:
On Nov. 12, 2011, the Swiss utility Axpo announced its decision to no longer acquire nuclear fuel originating from the Russian Mayak reprocessing plant. The decision was made based on Rosatom's denial to allow an inspection of the plant.
(Neue Zürcher Zeitung Nov. 12, 2011)
Zürich Canton government asks utility to halt use of nuclear fuel originating from Russian Mayak reprocessing plant:
The government of the canton of Zürich means to ask, through its representative in the board of directors of the utility Axpo, no longer to acquire nuclear fuel coming from the Russian reprocessing facility of Mayak.
(RSI July 22, 2011)
Zürich Canton parliament urges government to terminate business relations with Rosatom:
In view of the denial of access for a fact-finding mission of the Swiss utility Axpo to the Mayak reprocessing plant, the parliament (Kantonsrat) of the Canton of Zürich has urged the Canton government (Regierungsrat) to terminate the business relations with Rosatom as soon as possible. The Zürich Canton is co-owner of Axpo.
(Tages-Anzeiger Jun. 27, 2011)
Rosatom denies fact-finding mission of Swiss utility access to Mayak reprocessing plant:
Representatives of the Axpo energy group have called off a planned visit to Russia, after being suddenly told they could not visit the Mayak uranium reprocessing plant.
The official reason given by Rosatom, the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation, which is responsible for Mayak, is that the plant is in a closed military area.
In a statement issued by Axpo on Sunday, chairman Robert Lombardini said they were "very annoyed" at the fact that the visit, scheduled for the end of the month, had been called off at such short notice.
Lombardini explained that the aim of the visit by members of the Axpo board of directors was to "throw light on the allegations and decide on the basis of new factors whether the reprocessing of uranium in the Russian plants is consistent with the requirements laid down by Axpo for sustainable energy production".
(Swissinfo June 19, 2011)
Based on variations of radionuclide concentrations found in water samples taken near the Mayak plant, Greenpeace assumes that the plant still releases contaminated effluents into the environment. According to the Swiss utility Axpo, these results differ considerably from the monitoring data provided to Axpo by Mayak. For Axpo it remains therefor unclear, whether the contamination is caused by the current operation of the plant, or whether it is a legacy of incidents in the 1950s and 1960s.
(Schweizer Fernsehen May 20, 2011)
> View Greenpeace release May 20, 2011 (in German)
> Download CRIIRAD report Radioactivité dans les environs du site nucléaire Mayak en Russie , May 6, 2011 (1.1M PDF - in French)
> Download Greenpeace summary of CRIIRAD report , May 2011 (3.1M PDF - in German)
The Swiss utility Axpo is investigating allegations about the use of dirty uranium from the Mayak reprocessing plant in its nuclear power plants (Beznau and Leibstadt), according to Axpo CEO Manfred Thumann. Axpo has several supply contracts with Areva, including fuel manufacture in MSZ Elektrostal. Under one of these contracts, the fuel elements contain 10% uranium from Mayak. Axpo is now investigating, whether current operations at Mayak still are contaminating the environment.
(Schweizer Fernsehen Nov. 14, 2010)
The operators of the Beznau and Gösgen nuclear power pants in Switzerland have for the first time confirmed that they partly use nuclear fuel made from uranium reprocessed in the Russian Mayak plant - one of the most irradiated sites in the world.
The Mayak plant is known for an explosion of a plutonium tank in the 1950s, but current operations still discharge radioactive waste liquids directly into the Techa River. According to Greenpeace, the cancer incidence rate of area residents is elevated, as is the number of still births and births of heavily handicapped babies.
(Handelszeitung Sep. 9, 2010)
Swiss reprocessed uranium transferred to Eastern Europe for use as inferior quality fuel in old RBMK-1000 reactors
Other than plutonium and high level waste, the reprocessed uranium generated from reprocessing of Swiss spent fuel in the La Hague (France) and Sellafield (UK) reprocessing plants is not returned to Switzerland. According to a report in Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung, it is, for example, transferred to Areva, who sells it to Russian companies, who use it as an inferior quality fuel in old reactors. The Russian nuclear energy authority has confirmed that it is being used in all units of the RBMK-1000 reactor type (the Chernobyl reactor type, of which 11 units are still in use).
(Schweizer Fernsehen/Der Standard July 5, 2009)
> View Greenpeace Schweiz release July 15, 2009: "Verdacht erhärtet: Falsche Angaben in der Ökobilanz zum AKW Beznau" (in German)
> Download report Recycling von Wiederaufarbeitungsuran? Ein Einblick in die Geschäfte der Schweizer Atomindustrie mit russischen Brennstoffproduzenten (3.65MB PDF - in German)
United Kingdom announces Nuclear Fuel Fund to bolster domestic nuclear fuel production
> See here
United Kingdom concentrates all of its civil plutonium stockhodings in Sellafield
> View here
United Kingdom to build domestic safeguards regime for time after Brexit
On Apr. 12, 2019, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) announced that it "is ready to deliver a UK State System of Accountancy for and Control of Nuclear Material (UK SSAC) that enables the UK to meet its international safeguards obligations when required, and will now build on the UK SSAC to deliver a domestic safeguards regime that is equivalent in effectiveness and coverage to that currently provided by Euratom."
Britain can reuse plutonium extracted from Japan's spent fuel: NDA expert
Britain can reuse around 17 tons of plutonium extracted from Japan's spent nuclear fuel on condition that Japan provides funding for the reprocessing of the material, which could be used to produce atomic weapons, a British nuclear expert has indicated.
Adrian Simper of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), a body linked to the British government, said in a recent interview at the NDA's office in Risley that weapons-grade plutonium taken from Japanese spent fuel and kept in Britain could be reprocessed as mixed oxide fuel and reused in the country to power reactors.
British government sources also said they have conveyed to the Japanese government their readiness to reuse plutonium from Japan under appropriate commercial terms.
Britain has so far reprocessed around 4,000 tons of Japanese spent nuclear fuel.
At present, Japan has 44 tons of plutonium in the country and abroad. Of that amount, 30 tons is fissile material that could be used to produce about 5,000 nuclear weapons.
As of late last year, Britain kept around 90 tons of domestically generated plutonium and 28 tons of plutonium from other countries.
(Japan Times Nov. 24, 2012)
[there is no mention in the article, where or how Britain would produce that MOX fuel, given the malfunction of the Sellafield MOX fuel plant]
Ageing nuclear cargo ship Pacific Pintail brought back into service under new name - in spite of expected "PR difficulties"
An ageing nuclear cargo ship has been rescued from the scrapyard to save money transporting plutonium and other radioactive materials around the world, prompting accusations that maritime safety is being jeopardised.
The 25-year-old vessel, Pacific Pintail, has been brought back into service to make dozens of international shipments between nuclear plants over the next three years. Last month it moved three kilograms of plutonium under armed guard from Sweden to the US.
The Pintail was laid up at Barrow in Cumbria two years ago for decommissioning, but has been resurrected after a £ 44 million plan to build a new nuclear cargo ship was abandoned as too expensive. An internal report seen by the Guardian admits that the continued use of the old ship "will present some PR difficulties".
But the problems could be managed, the report said, by preparing a "stakeholder communications plan" and by giving the boat a new name. It has subsequently been renamed the Oceanic Pintail.
(Guardian Apr. 19, 2012)
UK's separated plutonium stockpile poses severe risks warns Royal Society
> See here
UK government starts consultation on management of plutonium stocks, prefers reuse in MOX fuel, implying construction of new MOX fuel plant
> See here
Study analyses economics of management options for UK uranium and plutonium stockpile
> See here
The British Geological Survey has performed a pilot study on the isotopic composition of uranium found in stream sediments near nuclear fuel facilities in the United Kingdom.
Samples were collected between 1979 and 1989 downstream from the following facilities:
- Drigg, Cumbria (part of the Sellafield complex),
- BNFL Springfields facility, near Preston (conversion and fuel fabrication),
- URENCO Capenhurst uranium processing complex (enrichment)
Uranium concentrations found in Drigg and Springfields stream sediments were about 20 times background, while those in Capenhurst were up to about 3 times background.
U-238/U-235 isotope ratios observed in stream sediments at Drigg and Springfields were in a 114.0 - 125.4 range (corresponding to 0.79 - 0.86 wt_% U-235), while those observed in Capenhurst were in a 54.8 - 63.0 range (corresponding to 1.55 - 1.77 wt_% U-235). For comparison: the U-238/U-235 ratio for natural uranium is 137.9, corresponding to 0.72 atom-percent, or 0.711 weight-percent U-235.
Without any detailed knowledge of the isotope ratios of the uranium released by these facilites, BGS was not able to determine what fraction of the uranium found in the stream sediments is attributable to the nuclear fuel facilities.
Uranium anomalies identified using G-BASE data - Natural or anthropogenic? A uranium isotope pilot study,
by SRN Chenery, EL Ander, KM Perkins, B Smith; British Geological Survey, Internal Report IR/02/001, 34 p., Keyworth, Nottingham 2002
> Download full report (2.5MB PDF - by courtesy of BGS)
British Energy (BE) said on Nov. 26, 2001, that uranium would need to reach $60/lb for mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel to become competitive, while the current market price is roughly $9/lb. BE Corporate Affairs Director Robert Armour said before the U.K. government's Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee that though BE had separated plutonium in storage at Sellafield from reprocessing of its advanced gas-cooled reactors' (AGR) spent fuel, it had not attempted to re-use it as MOX "because of cheap uranium." [Platts Nov. 26, 2001]
Aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: Capenhurst tails de-conversion plant project, United Kingdom
> See also: British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited Capenhurst site
> See also: BNFL's depleted uranium storage facility at former Capenhurst gaseous diffusion plant (UK)
> See also: DU exports of Urenco's Capenhurst enrichment facility (United Kingdom)
The plant is opposed by:
Close Capenhurst Campaign
ONR issues improvement notice to Urenco UK after hydrofluoric acid spill
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an improvement notice to Urenco ChemPlants Ltd, a tenant organisation on the site, after acid was discharged from a pipework leak at the Tails Management Facility in May.
During work to return a gas scrubber to service following maintenance activities, approximately 18 litres of diluted hydrofluoric acid (HF) was inadvertently discharged from a pipe.
A gas scrubber is used to treat a waste gas stream to remove components, commonly acid gases, such as HF, before its onwards discharge to the environment.
Although no workers were harmed, the incident had the potential to have more serious consequences if they had been directly exposed to the acid.
ONR identified several shortfalls, including inadequacies in the risk assessment that had been undertaken, and deficiencies in the safe system of work.
These shortfalls did not compromise either nuclear or radiological safety.
The improvement notice requires Urenco ChemPlants Ltd to make improvements to how they plan, organise and control future maintenance activities on the gas scrubber machinery to prevent any similar incidents occurring.
Urenco ChemPlants Ltd has until the start of December 2024 to comply with the requirements of this notice.
(ONR Aug. 29, 2024)
ONR issues improvement notice to contractor at Urenco UK site for lack of radiation risk assessment
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an improvement notice on Babcock Critical Services Limited for not having a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for carrying out work with ionising radiation at the Urenco UK Ltd site.
It follows an ONR inspection in July that revealed shortfalls in the contractor's operations at Capenhurst.
The failure to have a risk assessment in place meant that reasonably practicable measures to restrict exposure of workers to ionising radiation from uranium hexafluoride and triuranium octoxide may not have been implemented.
No workers were harmed as a result of this shortfall, and there was no impact on the public or the environment.
Babcock Critical Services Ltd must comply with the requirements of the improvement notice by the start of October 2024.
(ONR Aug. 29, 2024)
Urenco awarded GBP 196 million for construction of HALEU enrichment plant:
The government is awarding GBP 196 million [US$ 246 million] to Urenco to build a uranium enrichment facility [for high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU)].
Urenco's facility will have the capacity to produce up to 10 tonnes of HALEU per year by 2031.
(Department for Energy Security and Net Zero May 8, 2024)
[Oddly enough, there is no mention of any related fuel manufacturing facility.]
ONR issues improvement notice to Urenco UK for shortfalls with transport of enriched uranium hexafluoride
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an improvement notice on Urenco UK Ltd (UUK) after shortfalls were identified in compliance with transport regulations.
ONR issued the enforcement action after carrying out inspections related to a request from UUK to validate a package design used for the transport of enriched uranium.
ONR inspections revealed that UUK, a supplier of enrichment services and fuel cycle products, based at Capenhurst, Cheshire, had not undertaken sufficient checks before shipping to ensure that the correct legal requirements and competent authority approvals had been met.
(ONR Apr. 16, 2024)
> See also: Capenhurst Works (UUK) - Inspection ID: 52974 (ONR Apr. 30, 2024)
ONR finds fire-fighting main at Urenco Capenhurst enrichment plant in a degraded state
The inspection found the site wide fire-fighting main is in a degraded state and requires refurbishment. [...]
The inspection identified some potential shortfalls regarding the current performance and reliability of the site-wide fire fighting main, which might impact on the dutyholder's ability to adequately respond to an on-site emergency. We considered it necessary and proportionate to raise a Level 4 Regulatory Issue (RI-11846), requesting the site to demonstrate the risk associated with the fire main condition is understood, being appropriately managed, and will be addressed in a timely and prioritised manner.
(Capenhurst Works (UUK) – Inspection ID: 52924, Office for Nuclear Regulation, November 2023)
Fire hazard from external cladding of building at Urenco Capenhurst enrichment plant "not understood"
"It was noted that, in light of information provided by the E22 [building] Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) and in discussion with the site Fire Safety Coordinator (FSC) the combustible load from the E22 external cladding is not understood i.e. the fire performance is not known. This could have a significant impact on the risk of external and internal fire spread. A Level 4 Regulatory Issue (RI-11154) has therefore been raised to monitor the works planned by UUK to better understand the risk posed by the building cladding."
(Capenhurst Works (UUK) - Inspection ID: 52056, Office for Nuclear Regulation, December 2022)
In view of Ukraine invasion, Urenco terminates delivery contract with Russia
> See here
Councillors sceptical about proposed Metals Recycling facility at Urenco Capenhurst site:
Urenco UK's uranium enrichment facility on Capenhurst Lane in Chester currently handles 2,000 tonnes of radioactive waste a year, which is produced as part of its existing, internal operations.
But the firm applied for a change of use to allow it to also handle an additional 5,000 tonnes of very low level (VLL) and LL (low level) radioactive waste which will be brought in from outside the complex.
Planning chiefs recently met to rubber-stamp the plans, despite concerns over the quality of data provided in support of the application and fears over traffic safety and impact of HGV [Heavy goods vehicle] movements on local highways.
LL waste is defined as not requiring shielding during handling and transport and is suitable for disposal in near surface facilities. The council's waste needs assessments also defines it as 'lightly contaminated miscellaneous scrap, including metals, soil, building rubble, paper towels, clothing and laboratory equipment'. Most can be disposed of at specified landfill sites or thermal treatment facilities, the council report said.
Once the waste has gone through processes such as decontamination and repackaging, it would then be disposed of, with possible sites identified including the Veolia incinerator at Ellesmere Port, Clifton March landfill near Preston and Augean landfill at Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire.
The plans said there would be an extra six HGVs moving in and out of the site each day.
(Chester Standard Nov. 4, 2021)
Urenco Capenhurst to enter business of radioactive metals treatment for recycling and disposal:
Urenco has approved the progression of the Urenco Metals Recycling (UMR) facility project based at Urenco Nuclear Stewardship in Capenhurst. The project will now move into the design phase.
The facility, planned to begin operation in 2024, will provide a wide range of metallic treatment services for recycling and disposal. This will include size reduction, surface decontamination and metal melting for a range of metal types.
The UMR facility will serve the needs of the nuclear industry by bringing services to UK sites that can currently only be accessed overseas.
(Urenco Aug. 18, 2021)
Urenco announces plan for enriching up to 10% U-235 ("LEU+") also at its Capenhurst (UK) enrichment plant
"Urenco's programme to enable the production of LEU+, enriched uranium up to 10% U235, at its US and UK sites (Urenco UK and UUSA) is progressing quickly with the completion of detailed technical feasibility and plant optimisation plans. [...]
This new product can be used in existing light water reactors seeking to achieve higher levels of safety and improved economics. Urenco's existing advanced gas centrifuge technology is capable of producing it and few modifications will be needed to the current facilities at Urenco UK and UUSA.
LEU+ is a positive initial step towards the subsequent potential production of other next generation fuels, as announced previously [Feb. 5, 2019]."
(Urenco Apr. 1, 2021)
[On Feb. 5, 2019, Urenco had announced the High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU) project only for its U.S. plant.]
Protesters call for shutdown of Capenhurst enrichment plant
Urenco's nuclear plant at Capenhurst this week celebrated 50 years since the government-owned international company was founded.
But outside protesters lamented the damage to human health and the environment caused by disasters like Chernobyl in Ukraine and Fukushima in Japan.
Close Capenhurst campaigners argued the sector was unsafe from uranium mining to nuclear power production and the transportation and storage of highly radioactive waste.
Concerns have been raised about the Urenco plant itself which enriches uranium for use as fuel in nuclear reactors with the depleted uranium - a low level radioactive and toxic byproduct of the process - stored on site.
(Cheshire Live Mar. 6, 2020)
ONR serves Enforcement Notice on Urenco UK for fire safety shortfalls at Capenhurst enrichment plant
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has served an Enforcement Notice on Urenco UK Ltd following a fire safety inspection at its Capenhurst Works in Cheshire during December 2019.
The Enforcement Notice relates to contraventions of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
A planned fire safety inspection of one of the site's facilities revealed shortfalls in the fire alarm and detection systems.
While ONR requires a number of improvements to be made to ensure sustained compliance, there remained multiple safety barriers in place at the plant and there was no immediate risk to workers or the public.
(ONR Jan. 23, 2020)
ONR has granted an extension to an Enforcement Notice served on Urenco UK Ltd, recognising the good progress made so far.
Urenco UK Ltd must comply with the requirements of the extended notice by 30 September, 2020.
(ONR Mar. 2, 2020)
Uranium enricher Urenco widens scope of business to storage of defuelled submarine reactor pressure vessels at Capenhurst site
"A contract to store Ministry of Defence (MOD) submarine reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) at URENCO Nuclear Stewardship in Capenhurst was signed on Friday 3 November."
"This is part of URENCO's new organisational-wide strategy, a key pillar of which is to broaden the services URENCO provides to the nuclear industry."
(Urenco Nov. 17, 2017)
182 uranium hexafluoride transports to and from Urenco's Capenhurst enrichment plant in 2014
> View here
Firefighters at Urenco's Capenhurst enrichment plant announce 25 hour strike
Firefighters at the Capenhurst nuclear site will go on strike for 25 hours next week in a fight for their jobs.
Coincidentally, 25 male and female emergency response and rescue staff at the Urenco uranium enrichment plant are at risk of redundancy.
The GMB union says the strike will run between 6am on Wednesday (October 26) and 7am the next day.
(Chester Chronicle Oct. 19, 2016)
'Minor' leakage from legacy depleted UF6 cylinder shows importance of deconversion plant project at Capenhurst
> View here
Fire in Urenco's Capenhurst enrichment plant
An overheated circuit was believed to have been the cause of an overnight blaze at a nuclear plant at Capenhurst.
Fire crews [...] were called to the fire blaze at Urenco on Capenhurst Lane at around 4.13am on Thursday (Jan. 15) morning.
On arrival they discovered the flames were confined to an industrial sized electrical unit and wore breathing apparatus and used foam and dry powder to extinguish the blaze.
(Chester Chronicle Jan. 15, 2014)
Capacity of Urenco's Capenhurst enrichment plant decreases
According to Urenco's Annual Report and Accounts 2013 , the capacity of its Capenhurst (UK) enrichment plant decreased from 5.0 million SWU in 2012 to 4.9 million SWU in 2013.
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority transfers its Capenhurst site to Urenco
> View here
Fire at Urenco's Capenhurst enrichment plant
A nuclear scare was triggered at Urenco when a fire started in a workshop.
Firefighters from stations across Cheshire attended the uranium enrichment plant.
The proximity of the fire to radioactive uranium meant a carefully prepared action plan was set in motion and crews from Warrington, Ellesmere Port, Winsford and Chester all arrived at the Capenhurst Lane site at 3.26pm on Wednesday, February 22.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and staff from the plant put the fire out using a CO2 extinguisher.
(Ellesmere Port Pioneer Feb. 29, 2012)
ONR was promptly notified of a fire in a non radiologically contaminated solvent degreaser tank, located within a pump maintenance workshop, at one of the enrichment facilities. There were no injuries to personnel and the public were not affected. Monitoring of the perimeter of the site confirmed that there was no significant release of radioactive material. The non-radioactive degreaser solvent fire led to evacuation of the enrichment facility control room for about an hour. The fire was extinguished by the licensee's 'on site' Fire & Rescue team, supported by Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, as rehearsed during planned ONR observed emergency exercises.
ONR has determined that enforcement action was not appropriate. This is on the basis that the licensee has taken prompt action to implement a more robust maintenance regime and to obviate the build up of oil and grease residues within the heated solvent degreaser tank. These were understood to have been a key root cause of this event.
(HSE Office for Nuclear Regulation: Statement of nuclear incidents at nuclear installations - Q1 2012)
Unexpected enhanced neutron radiation levels at Urenco Capenhurst plant site perimeter still under investigation
Perimeter radiation levels are periodically measured by both the licensee and independently by the Health Protection Agency. In late 2008 and subsequently confirmed in 2009, although reducing in 2010 and early 2011, some unexpectedly variable levels of neutron radiation were measured, at the boundary of the Urenco UK Limited licensed site, at levels still well below any statutory limits and which are judged not to represent a significant health and safety risk, but nevertheless warranting further investigation.
Further independent measurements, taken by the Health Protection Agency, are periodically taken, to supplement those measurements taken by the licensee. The licensee has also engaged with the National Physical Laboratory, (NPL), in order to gain a better understanding of neutron dosimetry requirements. NPL took independent measurements at the site during this quarter. This has initiated ongoing assessment and research into neutron dose measurements by Urenco UK Limited, which is continuing to be reviewed by an ONR specialist health physics assessment inspector.
(ONR site inspector's quarterly report to the local stakeholder group for 1 April - 30 June 2011)
Urenco Capenhurst fails to maintain and test some safety related plant equipment
During a site inspection on 17th December, the licensee's Managing Director informed the site inspector of an event, provisionally rated as category "one" on the INES, (International Nuclear Event System) scale. During the licensee's periodic review of an enrichment facility plant maintenance schedule, (which defines key safety related equipment and the required maintenance frequencies for this equipment) it had just been established that a number of items of plant equipment had been incorrectly safety categorised, resulting in the failure to routinely maintain and test some of this safety related plant equipment. The maintenance should have been in accordance with the plant safety case requirements. The licensee was urgently testing these plant items and preliminary indications were that the equipment was generally functioning in compliance with the safety case requirements. This event was promptly recognised by the licensee as being a significant failure of their safety management system.
(NII site inspector's quarterly report to the local stakeholder group for 1st October to 31 December 2009, Jan. 25, 2010)
Unexpected enhanced site perimeter radiation levels detected at Urenco Capenhurst plant
In late 2008 and subsequently confirmed in 2009, some unexpectedly enhanced levels of radiation were measured, at the boundary of the Urenco UK Limited licensed site, at levels still well below any regulatory limits, but nevertheless warranting further investigation.
(NII site inspector's quarterly report to the local stakeholder group for 1st October to 31 December 2009, Jan. 25, 2010)
U.S. NRC issues export license for enrichment of Chinese origin uranium at Urenco's European plants
> View here
Three safety related equipment items found out of operation at Capenhurst enrichment plant, after Urenco forgets maintenance
Urenco UK Limited - Capenhurst reported on 17th December 2009 that during a periodic review of the Plant Maintenance schedule, the licensee identified that some safety related equipment items had not been placed on to the Plant Maintenance Schedule; some since 2005. This potential shortfall related to extensions to the latest enrichment facility, which was actively commissioned over the period 2005 to 2009. Consequently, affected safety related equipment items may not have been maintained in accordance with the plant safety case. Urgent checks were made of the safety related equipment items, three were found to be out of operation but of low safety significance, and were promptly repaired.
(HSE Office for Nuclear Regulation: Quarterly statement of nuclear incidents at nuclear installations)
UK Environment Agency invites comment on review of radioactive waste authorisations for Urenco Capenhurst
The UK Environment Agency is reviewing the radioactive waste authorisations held by Urenco (Capenhurst) Limited for part of the nuclear site at Capenhurst, near Chester and invites comments.
Responses are due by 10 April 2007.
> View Environment Agency release Feb. 2007
Urenco Capenhurst tails deconversion plant project
> See here
Urenco Capenhurst seeks approval for enrichment of recycled uranium and for higher enrichment levels
A Preliminary Safety Report has been prepared to seek regulatory approval to enrich recycled uranium at Capenhurst as Urenco already does at its Almelo Plant in the Netherlands. Because of the potential increase in Nuclear power around the world uranium prices have risen which has therefore increased customer demand for enriching recycled uranium. The same report also covers the potential to enrich to higher levels than currently licensed. Again this is in anticipation of new requirements in the civil nuclear power industry as new generations of reactors are developed.
(Minutes of the Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd Local Liaison Committee, 30th November 2005)
UK Government to privatise stake in Urenco
> See Urenco
UK regulator releases review of Urenco Capenhurst's decommissioning strategy
On November 9, 2004, the UK Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installation Inspectorate (NII) released its quinquennial review of Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd's decommissioning strategy. The review also covers Urenco's tails disposition strategy.
> View HSE release Nov. 9, 2004
> Download A review by HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate: Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd's strategy
for decommissioning its nuclear licensed site, Nov. 2004 (300k PDF)
> See also: Enriched uranium found in stream sediments near UK nuclear fuel facilities
(formely BNFL Springfields)
Aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: Enriched uranium found in stream sediments near UK nuclear fuel facilities
Westinghouse receives government grant to explore reinstatement of conversion capabilities at Springfields site
On Dec. 13, 2022, Westinghouse announced that it received a Direct Award Grant from the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to explore the development of Uranium Conversion Services at the company's Springfields facility in Lancashire, England.
The £13M (US$15.9M) award from BEIS, along with ongoing Westinghouse investment, will be used to prepare the necessary design and enabling work to begin new conversion capability from 2028. The proposed facility would provide both reprocessed (RepU) and naturally occurring Uranium (NIU) conversion services.
[There is no mention of the fate or status of the existing 5,500 t/a conversion plant at this site...]
Cameco ends Springfields toll-uranium conversion agreement early
On Mar. 31, 2014, Cameco announced that it will end its toll-conversion agreement with Springfields Fuels Ltd. (SFL) effective December 31, 2014.
The toll-conversion agreement was set to expire in 2016. Cameco has agreed to pay $18 million to SFL to permit early termination of the agreement. Production for Cameco at the Springfields facility will cease by August 31, 2014. Cameco expects to receive a maximum of 3,731 tonnes of uranium as UF6 from Springfields in 2014.
"With the current weak market for UF6 conversion we can meet our customer requirements from our Port Hope conversion facility and benefit from better utilization of existing assets," said Tim Gitzel, Cameco's president and CEO.
Filter blown outside of Springfields Fuels Ltd uranium conversion plant building
"During night shift hours of 10/11 October [2012], an environmental discharge filter, contaminated with low levels of uranium tetrafluoride powder, became pressurised, and detached from its housing. This caused the filter to be released from the Hex Plant building on to nearby walkways, outside the building, but contained within the site."
(Quarterly site report for the Springfields Fuels Limited site. 1 October 2012 to 31 December 2012. HSE Office for Nuclear Regulation, Jan. 2013)
Operational life of BNFL Springfields uranium conversion plant to be extended by 10 years
Cameco has signed a toll-conversion agreement with British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) to acquire uranium conversion services (UF6) from BNFL's Springfields plant in Lancashire, United Kingdom. Under the 10-year agreement, BNFL will annually convert a base quantity of 5 million kilograms of uranium (kgU) as UO3 to UF6 for Cameco.
In 2001, BNFL announced that the Springfields facility would close in 2006. This new agreement will keep the plant operating for the duration of the agreement.
Cameco will invest $4 million to construct drum tipping and washing facilities at BNFL's Springfields plant. UO3 shipments from Cameco's Blind River refinery to Springfields are expected to begin later in 2005 with UF6 conversion shipments from BNFL starting in mid-2006.
(Cameco March 16, 2005)
Springfields uranium conversion plant to be shut down in 2006
"British Nuclear Fuels plc (BNFL) will cease uranium hexafluoride (UF6) conversion operations at its Springfield facility after March 2006, the company announced. The decision to end the conversion operations follows BNFL's announced schedule for shutting down its eight Magnox plants. BNFL emphasized that production of Magnox fuel and UF6 conversion share manufacturing facilities, and that it would be uneconomical to continue UF6 conversion after Magnox fuel production ends 'sometime after 2005'. Meanwhile, BNFL has sold its uncommitted UF6 conversion capacity to Cameco Corp. Under the agreement, BNFL will cease marketing UF6 conversion immediately, and all production other than that needed to fill existing contract requirements is committed to Cameco, who must take a specified minimum quantity of conversion." (UI News Briefing 01.07, Feb. 14, 2001)
(formerly BNFL Springfields)
Aerial view: Google Maps
> See also: Enriched uranium found in stream sediments near UK nuclear fuel facilities
Inspection reveals several deficiencis in fire protection at Springfields nuclear fuel plant
Several findings were noted during the inspection:
- It was noted that inspectors were allowed to enter the hydrogen storage compound, which has a Zone 1 hazardous area, without changing to anti-static clothing and footwear as identified in the site standard (SSI 734). Additionally, it was noted that the calculation of hydrogen event frequency contained a probability of hydrogen ignition factor of 0.1. This is not aligned with relevant good practice. Additionally a factor of 0.1 is applied for the frequency of hydrogen deflagration vs a jet fire. This is not supported by the geometry of the hydrogen compound. A level 4 regulatory issue has been raised to address these shortfalls against the DSEAR [Dangerous Substances & Explosive Atmospheres Regulations] and the implications for Occupied Building Risk Assessment (OBRA).
- It was noted that there were some examples, within OFC [Oxides Fuels Complex], where Springfields were unable to demonstrate adequate control of combustibles despite the building having some known vulnerabilities to fire. A level 4 regulatory issue has been raised to address this shortfall.
- The current nuclear fire safety assessment for OFC considers fire on an individual Fault Sequence Group (FSG) basis and only considers the potential impact of SSCs which support the individual fault. A holistic view of fire which considers the potential impact of fire spread on SSCs which potentially support multiple FSGs is not covered. Additionally, the process for compliance with operating assumptions (the lowest tier of safety case operating rules) lacked clarity leading to inconsistent application in areas sampled. Given the buildings known vulnerability to fire a Level 3 regulatory issue has been raised to address this shortfall.
- It was noted that Springfields do not currently have formal emergency guidance identifying the strategy and actions required to deal with a potential leak of hydrogen at the site compound. This is not aligned with Schedule 4 of L111 (The guide to The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015). A level 4 regulatory issue has been raised to address this shortfall.
(ONR Springfields Works - Inspection ID: 52900, Oct. 24, 2024)
Westinghouse produces first LEU+ fuel pellets at Springfields nuclear fuel plant
On August 7, 2024, Westinghouse Electric Company announced that it has completed the first pressing of its Low Enriched Uranium (LEU+) ADOPT™ nuclear fuel pellets for commercial application at its Springfields Fuel Manufacturing Facility in the UK.
LEU+ ADOPT fuel contains up to 8% by weight uranium-235 (U-235) and additives that improve the safety performance of the fuel compared to standard UO2. Compared to the standard 5% uranium-235 enrichment used in Low Enriched Uranium, LEU+ ADOPT allows the generation of more power with fewer replacement bundles within the reactor core, offering improved nuclear fuel cycle economics for operating reactors.
Contamination incident at Springfields nuclear fuel plant
There has been one safety-related event relating to initiation of a pressure test on an incorrect system. This led to minor levels of contamination outside of the containment area, which meant two operatives received a small additional radiological dose uptake. The dose received was significantly below annual limits and formal dose assessment requirements as required by the Ionising Radiation Regulations 2017.
(ONR Site Report Springfields Fuel Ltd - Springfields Works, July 2024)
Hydrofluoric acid spill at Springfields nuclear fuel plant
ONR undertook a preliminary enquiry into an event which occurred on 12 October 2023 and resulted in the loss of containment of diluted hydrofluoric acid in an operational facility. No workers were harmed although this event could have potentially caused serious injury. The aim was to gain independent assurance on the adequacy of the investigation by Springfields Ltd into this event and to ensure that sufficient and effective improvements were implemented to avoid re-occurrence. After considering the potential seriousness of the event and taking into account the licensee's performance, ONR decided to issue an Enforcement Letter and requested Springfields Ltd to further improve aspects of the control of work, supervision and plant operation.
(ONR Site Report Springfields Fuel Ltd Springfields Works, April 2024)
UK government awards grants to Westinghouse for development of advanced fuels at Springfields plant
On July 27, 2023, Westinghouse Electric Company announced that the U.K. Government's Nuclear Fuel Fund has awarded three grants to upgrade and expand the Springfields Fuel Fabrication Facility to support the United Kingdom's next-generation nuclear reactors.
The three awards totalling £10.5 million will future-proof the U.K. nuclear fuel industry by developing more variants of light water reactor fuels, including for the AP1000® reactor and the AP300™ small modular reactor. The funding also supports potential production of High Enriched Low Assay Uranium-based (HALEU) Advanced Nuclear Fuels for the U.K.'s new Generation III and IV fission reactors. Additionally, Westinghouse will partner with Terrestrial Energy and the National Nuclear Laboratory to pilot supply of enriched Uranium Tetrafluoride (UF4) and molten salt fuel for use in Terrestrial's Integral Molten Salt Reactor.
UK government awards grant to Westinghouse for development of advanced TRISO fuels
On Oct. 26, 2022, Westinghouse Electric Company announced that it was awarded a grant from the United Kingdom's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to support development of advanced nuclear fuel.
In collaboration with Urenco Ltd., Westinghouse will complete a Pre-Front End Engineering Design study for a secure and reliable supply of advanced TRi-structural ISOtropic (TRISO) fuels to support a range of potential high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technologies in development. Westinghouse will also receive support on this study from TRISO-X, LLC.
The work will occur at Westinghouse's Springfields Fuels Ltd. facility in Preston, Lancashire.
159 uranium hexafluoride transports from Springfields nuclear fuel fabrication plant in 2014
> View here
Toshiba's nuclear subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co declares bankrupt
> View here
Small release of uranium hexafluoride from ageing container at Springfields nuclear fuel fabrication plant
"On 30 April, the ONR nominated site inspector, accompanied by the Environment Agency nuclear regulator, conducted a reactive intervention, in response to a minor site event promptly reported on 23 April. This event involved a small weepage of uranium hexafluoride residue, from within two ageing legacy uranium hexafluoride transport containers. This type of container is no longer authorised for transport off the site. These two transport container had been stored on an external storage raft, alongside other similar containers, but were subsequently brought into ventilated, monitored cells, within a container processing building, for the forthcoming emptying of the transport container contents."
(Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), Quarterly Site Report for Springfields Fuels Limited, Report for period 1 April - 30 June 2014)
"The licensee reported on 11 July that both of these containers had been safety washed out and the licensee remained on programme to empty the remaining ageing containers of this type within an acceptable timescale."
(Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), Quarterly Site Report for Springfields Fuels Limited, Report for period 1 July - 30 September 2014)
Westinghouse Electric Co to buy Springfields Fuel
Toshiba Corp has announced its US subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Co will acquire UK-based Springfields Fuel after successfully concluding talks that started in September 2009.
Under the deal, Westinghouse, which is currently the contracted operator of the Springfields plant will fully take over the business. However, the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which owns Springfields, will continue to own the property and buildings and will lease them out to Westinghouse.
(IFandP Mar. 31, 2010)
Fuel manufacture from reprocessed uranium under consideration for Springfields nuclear fuel plant
"NII has continued to be engaged in discussions with the licensee regarding a proposal to potentially manufacture fuel, using reprocessed uranium as the feedstock. The licensee is currently reviewing the potential to use existing facilities and potentially a new facility to process the associated limited waste arisings. [...] The licensee is also continuing to plan to restart the existing LWR fuel manufacturing line, having recently updated the associated plant safety case."
(Springfields Fuels Limited Springfields Works report, NII site inspector's quarterly report for 1 July – 30 September 2009)
Westinghouse in discussions on takeover of Springfields nuclear fuel fabrication plant
Westinghouse Electric Company will
announce that it is in advanced discussions with the Nuclear
Decommissioning Authority (NDA) concerning a new organizational arrangement
for the UK Fuel site at Springfields near Preston. These arrangements are
looking at the introduction of a long-term lease when the current site
management contract ends on March 31, 2010 together with the permanent
transfer of ownership of Springfields Fuels Ltd, the company managing the
site. (Westinghouse Sep. 9, 2009)
> See more recent issues
Sellafield MOX plant closure could cost taxpayer GBP 100 million
Taxpayers will be expected to pay the full costs of closing down and decommissioning a nuclear fuel plant at Sellafield which was built to provide plutonium-uranium mixed oxides (Mox) fuel to foreign power companies.
A senior Sellafield executive has reassured Japanese customers that they will not have to pay the expected GBP 100 million costs of decommissioning the Sellafield Mox Plant, in Cumbria, which was closed in August because of Japan's "anticipated" cancellation of orders as a consequence of the Fukushima incident.
When a new nuclear power plant is decommissioned, the costs are supposed to be met by a levy on electricity companies but because the Sellafield Mox Plant is not new and was operated by the now-defunct, state-owned British Nuclear Fuels, the decommissioning liabilities fall to the British Government, said Andy Dawson, group commercial director of Sellafield Ltd.
"The costs of decisions to close the Mox plant ... will thus ultimately be paid by British taxpayers," Mr Dawson said in a letter to the Japan Times.
(Independent Oct. 31, 2011)
Sellafield's MOX fuel plant to shut as a consequence of the Fukushima accident
The UK's only plant for processing plutonium into new fuel for nuclear reactors is to close as a result of the Japanese tsunami, threatening the loss of hundreds of jobs, it was announced today.
The MOX site at Sellafield in Cumbria, which employs 800 workers, only had customers in Japan, where reactors have been shut down after the devastating earthquake and tsunami earlier this year.
Anti-nuclear campaigners said the plant had cost the public £1.4 billion in construction and running costs since building started in the mid-1990s, while union leaders described the closure as "ill-conceived and short-sighted".
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said there had been a "changed risk profile" for the Sellafield Mox Plant (SMP) following the Japanese disaster which crippled the Fukushima nuclear reactors.
"In order to ensure that the UK taxpayer does not carry a future financial burden from SMP the only reasonable course of action is to close SMP at the earliest practical opportunity. "
(The Independent August 3, 2011)
Potential closure of Hamaoka nuclear plant in Japan casts doubt on viability of Sellafield's MOX operation
The future of a nuclear fuel plant at Sellafield in Cumbria hangs in the balance after the Japanese Prime Minister called for the closure of a nuclear power station near Tokyo, which was to be the UK plant's most important customer.
The setback is the latest blow to Britain's faltering strategy for dealing with its growing mountain of reprocessed nuclear waste, and further evidence of the extent to which the devastating Japanese earthquake of 11 March has changed the nuclear picture - in particular the international trade in reprocessed nuclear fuel.
If the power plant at Hamaoka, 200km from Tokyo, closes, shipments of nuclear fuel to Japan from the Sellafield Mox Plant would stop before they had even started. It is the latest in a long series of problems for the nuclear fuel plant at the Sellafield complex which had already cost taxpayers GBP 1.34 billion even before the impact of the earthquake and tsunami was felt.
(The Independent May 9, 2011)
Chubu Electric Power Co. agreed Monday (May 9) to suspend operation of the Hamaoka nuclear power station in Shizuoka Prefecture, as requested by Prime Minister Naoto Kan for safety reasons, its president said.
(Mainichi May 9, 2011)
Areva to upgrade BNFL Sellafield MOX fuel plant
On July 1, 2010, Areva announced that it has signed a contract with Sellafield Limited to design, supply and install a new rod line for the SMP MOX fuel plant. AREVA will also provide associated inspection equipment.
The contract is part of a program of engineering improvements being made to the plant following an agreement with Japanese utilities for further fuel manufacture.
NDA confirms that operations at Sellafield MOX Plant are to continue
"Given recent improvements in plant performance and positive discussions with customers the NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) has concluded that, at this stage, the best course of action is the continued operation of SMP (Sellafield MOX Plant) in pursuance of completing the current campaign of fuel manufacture."
(NDA Oct. 27, 2009)
Sellafield's rejected MOX fuel to be reprocessed in France
Nuclear fuel rejected by Japan in disgrace ten years ago is finally to be reprocessed. In a multi million pound scandal, the MOX produced by Sellafield was returned after a whistleblower said a check on the fuel was falsified by bored workers. Now the fuel will be taken to France for reprocessing.
A statement from International Nuclear Services, which is run by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and oversees the movement of nuclear fuel, said:
"[...] In 2014/15 the sixteen unirradiated MOX fuel assemblies will be transported to France to be processed in a facility at Cap La Hague operated by Areva NC (which now part owns Sellafield).
The reusable constituents will be separated out and made available for making into new fuel. The waste products will be returned to Sellafield."
(North West Evening Mail (Aug. 8, 2009)
UK government discloses Sellafield MOX Plant losses
The UK government has released figures showing the losses made at the Sellafield MOX fuel reprocessing plant.
Since the plant opened in 2002, the plant has produced a total of only 6.3t of mixed-oxide fuel. In three of those years it produced none, and in one it produced only 0.3t. According to campaign group Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment, its original annual production rate was 120t.
Since 2002, it has had an average net cash flow (costs minus sales) of -GBP89.5 million; -GBP626 million in total. Costs include operating costs, overheads and subcontracts. The plant cost GBP498 million to build and GBP139.4 million to commission.
(Nuclear Engineering International April 10, 2009)
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority sees no future for Sellafield MOX fuel plant
The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) apparently does not believe that the Sellafield MOX plant (SMP) will ever function properly. NDA only concedes that the plant possibly might be useful for the production of so-called "low specification MOx" - as part of an option for the disposal, rather than reuse of plutonium:
"NDA have reviewed SMP and do not believe that it provides either the capacity or longevity to be used for the UK civil stockpile and the recycle options that NDA has considered assumed that plutonium is either sold direct or that MOx is fabricated in a new plant. There may be an opportunity to utilise the plant in a meaningful manner for the low specification MOx option."
> Download NDA Plutonium Topic Strategy, Credible Options Technical Analysis, 30 January 2009 (1.1M PDF)
Sellafield MOX fuel plant produces almost nothing
A nuclear plant built at a cost of GBP 470 million to provide atomic fuel to be used in foreign power stations has produced almost nothing since it was opened six years ago, the government has admitted.
The mixed oxide (Mox) facility at Sellafield in Cumbria - which was opposed by green groups as uneconomic - was originally predicted to have an annual throughput of 120 tonnes of fuel.
The energy minister, Malcolm Wicks, has admitted in response to a parliamentary question that it had managed only 2.6 tonnes in any one 12-month period between 2002 and 2006-07.
In the four years before 2002, the plant had produced annual figures respectively of 2.3 tonnes, 0.3 tonnes, 0 tonnes and 0 tonnes.
Wicks described the Sellafield Mox plant (SMP) as being based on "largely unproven technology" and pointed out that its estimated annual output had been reduced by 2001 to 72 tonnes.
British Nuclear Group (BNG), which operates the Sellafield site, said a range of improvements were being made to the facility but it admitted that the 2007-08 period had again seen production disrupted by various problems.
BNG has been forced to meet the needs of Swiss and other contracted customers for Mox fuel through buying alternative supplies from France and Belgium.
(The Guardian March 3, 2008)
BNFL calls in chief competitor Cogéma to try to get its MOX fuel plant operating properly
BNFL has had to turn to its biggest competitor, the French group Cogema, for help to try to get its controversial GBP 473 million (EUR 684 million) MOX plant operating properly. The plant is years behind target and has lost the company hundreds of millions of pounds. Two former environment ministers - Labour and Conservative - are demanding a parliamentary inquiry.
(Independent Oct. 17, 2004)
Sellafield MOX plant starts operation
On December 20, 2001, BNFL's Sellafield MOX fuel plant started operation. (Independent Dec. 21, 2001)
FOE and Greenpeace lose appeal against Sellafield MOX plant decision
On December 7, 2001, environmentalists lost their appeal against the opening of the Sellafield MOX plant. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace had urged the English Court of Appeal to overturn a High Court ruling last month that UK ministers had made "no error in law" in approving the Sellafield Mox Plant, which combines reprocessed plutonium with uranium. But Lords Justices Simon Brown, Waller and Dyson unanimously rejected the appeal at a hearing in London, saying the government was "entitled to decide these cases in the real world".
(Financial Times 7 Dec 2001)
> View FOE news release (7 Dec 2001)
Ireland loses legal challenge against Sellafield MOX plant
On December 3, 2001, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg ruled that "the urgency of the situation did not require the prescription of the provisional measures as requested by Ireland" (i.e. a temporary injunction to halt the start of operations at the MOX plant).
The tribunal ordered Ireland and the UK to submit written evidence by December 17, giving Ireland a window of just three days to resolve its complaints before the scheduled opening of the plant on December 20.
(Financial Times 3 Dec. 2001)
> View: International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Hamburg:
The MOX Plant Case (Ireland v. United Kingdom), Provisional Measures
FOE and Greenpeace appeal Sellafield MOX plant court decision
On Nov. 27, 2001, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth asked Britain's Court of Appeal to block the opening of the Sellafield MOX fuel facility. They are appealing a decision by the High Court on 15 Nov. that the government had made "no error of law" in granting approval for the Sellafield facility in Cumbria to begin production of mixed-oxide fuel. (AP 28 Nov. 2001)
> View Friends of the Earth release Nov. 23, 2001
Irish Government calls for injunction against Sellafield MOX plant at International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
The Government is calling for the tribunal to establish Ireland's rights under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to grant its request for an injunction against the authorisation of the MOX plant next month based on a threat to those rights. Ireland says this is necessary to prevent the erosion of numerous other rights granted to it in the convention.
(Irish Times Nov. 20, 2001)
High Court Judge rules Sellafield MOX plant go-ahead not unlawful
On Nov. 15, 2001, a High Court Judge ruled that the Government's recent decision to give British Nuclear Fuels Ltd the go-ahead for the MOX plant at Sellafield was not unlawful under European law. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace had made the case that the Government had wrongly disregarded the £470 million it cost to build the plant when deciding that the plant was economically justified under EU law. Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth will consider whether to appeal Mr Justice Collins' decision.
> View Friends of the Earth release Nov. 15, 2001
FOE and Greenpeace take MOX nuke plant to court
The UK Government is being taken to court to prevent the controversial plutonium plant at Sellafield from opening. Lawyers acting for Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace on Oct. 5, 2001, filed papers in the High Court.
> View Friends of the Earth release Oct. 5, 2001
Sellafield MOX plant receives government go-ahead
On Oct. 3, 2001, the UK Government announced that the manufacture of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel is justified in accordance with the requirements of European Community law.
Before the MOX Plant can start full operation, BNFL is required under one of the conditions in its Sellafield nuclear site licence to obtain consent for plutonium commissioning from the Health and Safety Executive.
> View DEFRA release Oct. 3, 2001 · Download Decision document (DEFRA)
> View Friends of the Earth release Oct. 3, 2001
The Nuclear Safety Directorate of the U.K. Health and Safety Executive has published the following reports:
HSE Team inspection of the control and supervision of operations at BNFL's Sellafield site (Feb. 18, 2000)
An investigation into the falsification of pellet diameter data in the MOX Demonstration Facility at the BNFL Sellafield site and the effect of this on the safety of MOX fuel in use (Feb. 18, 2000)
Urenco to supply Ukraine with enriched uranium
Ukraine's national nuclear energy generating company Energoatom and the Anglo-German-Dutch company URENCO have signed a contract on supply of the enriched uranium for Ukraine.
The enriched uranium which the company will provide will be used to produce nuclear fuel at a facility of Westinghouse Company in Sweden for the purposes of Ukrainian nuclear power plants.
(Energoatom Aug. 18, 2016)
Areva to supply Ukraine with enriched uranium
On April 24, 2015, Areva announced it has signed a contract with Ukrainian utility Energoatom , for the supply of enriched uranium, to be used in local nuclear power plants. This is the first enriched uranium contract awarded to Areva by Energoatom.
The first batches will be delivered in 2015.
> See extra page
