The UK's uranium enrichment site, operated by Urenco UK, with about 4,500 tSWU/yr of capacity across three plants (E23 provides over 80%). In May 2026 it completed a first LEU+ production trial reaching 7% U-235, and it will host the UK's planned HALEU plant (tracked separately).
New to HALEU and enrichment? HALEU, explained: the fuel advanced reactors need · The U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain, explained
Current state
| Status | Operating |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Location | Capenhurst, Cheshire, England |
| Operator | Urenco UK Ltd |
| Ownership | Part of Urenco Group (UK government, Dutch government, E.ON and RWE each one-third). |
| Facility type | Enrichment plant |
| Technology | Gas centrifuge |
| Products | LEU, LEU+ |
| Capacity (tSWU/yr) | 4,500 |
| License | Licensed nuclear site regulated by ONR; ONR permitted a Phase 1 LEU+ production trial after a regulatory readiness review (2026). |
| Offtake | Urenco said LEU+ could be transported to fuel fabricators from early 2027. |
Notes
Urenco states 4,500 tSW/a current capacity; no LEU capacity expansion is planned at Capenhurst per IPFM, though Urenco reports refurbishment with two plants brought back online after upgrades. HALEU plant is a separate record (urenco-capenhurst-haleu).
Timeline
- 1973 — Enrichment operations at Capenhurst began. (source)
- 2026-04 — ONR inspected Urenco UK's readiness to enrich beyond 6 wt% U-235 to support release of a regulatory hold point for Phase 1 of the LEU+ project. (source)
- 2026-05-01 — Urenco completed a five-day LEU+ production trial at Capenhurst, achieving samples at 7% U-235. (source)
The timeline is append-only: corrections are added as new entries. Stated targets appear in the current-state table, never as milestones.
Related facilities
- Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Combine (AECC) Operating · Russia
- BWXT DUECE Pilot Plant (Erwin) Planned · United States
- CNEA Pilcaniyeu enrichment plant Shut down · Argentina
- CNNC Emeishan uranium enrichment plant (Plant 814) Expanding · China
- CNNC Hanzhong uranium enrichment plant (Plant 405) Expanding · China
- CNNC Lanzhou uranium enrichment plant (Plant 504) Expanding · China
- Electrochemical Plant (ECP), Zelenogorsk Operating · Russia
- Global Laser Enrichment Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) Licensing · United States
See all 29 facilities in the Uranium Enrichment & HALEU Tracker →
Sources
- Urenco UK site page — Urenco (primary), checked 2026-10-11
- Urenco plant produces LEU+ in first trial — Urenco (primary), checked 2026-10-11
- Urenco's Capenhurst site produces LEU+ in first trial run — World Nuclear News, checked 2026-10-11
- Capenhurst Works (UUK) inspection ID 54251 — Office for Nuclear Regulation (primary), checked 2026-10-11
- Uranium Enrichment (updated 29 Sep 2026) — World Nuclear Association, checked 2026-10-11