The UK government has announced a £300 million funded programme to manufacture fuel for next-generation nuclear reactors.
This initiative aims to make the UK the first country in Western Europe to produce high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel, which is currently only commercially produced by Russia.
Production is scheduled to commence in the early 2030s at the first site in northwest England, according to government data.
HALEU fuel, which contains 5-20% uranium-235 – higher than the 5% found in fuel powering most operational nuclear plants, is required to fuel many advanced reactor models, including small modular reactors.
The £300 million investment ties into the UK government's objective to generate up to 24GW of nuclear electricity by 2050, covering a quarter of the country's needs.
"Having stood up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin regarding oil, gas and financial markets following the Ukraine invasion, we will not permit nuclear fuel extortion," vowed UK Energy Security Minister Claire Couthino in a statement.
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The UK’s goal is to earn 95% of electricity from low-carbon sources by 2030 and achieve a fully decarbonised grid by 2035.
However, according to an audit by independent advisory body the CCC, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's shift on certain environmental policies will make the realisation of carbon neutrality by 2050 more challenging, despite some progress.
