Urenco is undertaking a major expansion of its uranium enrichment operations at its Almelo site in the Netherlands. Revealed in late 2023, this initiative is driven by increased customer commitments and will increase the plant’s output by 15%, adding around 750 metric tons of separative work units (SWU) per year. The expansion will involve the installation of several new centrifuge cascades, with the first of these slated to be online around 2027.
Work on the expansion formally began with a groundbreaking ceremony on March 25th of the previous year. Since then, the project has been advancing steadily. A significant step forward occurred on July 10, 2024, when Urenco and construction partner BAM Bouw en Techniek signed the implementation agreement for the construction of “Hall 8,” the central building for this capacity increase. BAM has now progressed from the basic design to a detailed design phase and has readied the construction site for the upcoming building work.
The project entered its construction phase on January 7th with the installation of the first foundation pile. Completion of the entire project is expected by summer 2026.
Hall 8, a sizable structure approximately 200 meters long and 30 meters wide, poses a significant construction undertaking, requiring both accuracy and strict compliance with safety regulations. BAM Bouw en Techniek detailed that the hall will utilize a “box-in-box” construction method. This specialized technique establishes a controlled internal atmosphere essential for maintaining ideal operational conditions. Moreover, the hall necessitates a top-tier floor finish with extremely close tolerances to guarantee the correct installation and functionality of the enrichment machinery. In addition to the main production hall, a separate building for cooling systems will also be built.
