Future depends on collaboration, WNFM conference told

The importance of collaboration in the fuel supply chain to enable its future was emphasised at the 51st World Nuclear Fuel Market (WMFM) conference.

Head of Sales at Urenco, Sarah Riedel, told a panel discussion on June 4 that "everybody" had a role to play in maintaining the market and helping it succeed going forward.

The panel included enrichers, converters, miners and a laser enrichment company.

Sarah said: "Urenco is actively collaborating with its customers and partners.

"We are expanding our enrichment capacity, working towards the first HALEU facility and educating stakeholders in the market."

The panel examined the "chicken and egg issue" in the advanced fuels/advanced reactor market, the current impact of geo-politics on nuclear, and asked whether a new enrichment new-build project was needed.

On the latter point, Sarah said that expanding at existing sites held an advantage over new projects as companies like Urenco had the space to expand whilst already having licences in place. At our site in Eunice, New Mexico, we can expand up to 10 million SWU per year.

The WNFM was held in Sydney, Australia, this year.