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Released October 27, 2025 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)
Summary
First contracts have been signed on the U.K.'s next major nuclear power project at Sizewell C, part of the country's plan to expand its nuclear power resources.
U.K.'s Next Major Nuclear Power Plant
The developer behind the U.K.'s next major nuclear project, Sizewell C, is powering ahead with the announcement of a series of domestic long-term nuclear fuel contracts and the release of a £250 million (US$336 million) earthworks contract.
Sizewell C Ltd (Leiston, Suffolk), which is majority-owned by the U.K. government, has agreed a six-year supply contract with Urenco (Stoke Poges, England) and a long-term fuel fabrication contract with Framatome (Courbevoie, France) for the provision of enriched uranium services and nuclear fuel fabrication, respectively. The former will carry out uranium enrichment at its site at Capenhurst, near Chester in the northwest of England, which Framatome will then turn into fuel for the project at its factory in Romans, France, until its new U.K. facility is available.
The U.K. government is working towards securing its own domestic nuclear fuel pipeline. Like Hinkley Point C, which is currently under construction, Sizewell C in Suffolk will feature two EPR2 reactors from Electricité de France (EDF) (Paris, France) that will produce 3.2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of around 6 million homes. In July, EDF agreed to invest up to £1.1 billion (US$1.5 billion) for a 12.5% stake in the project. For additional information, see July 21, 2025, article - EDF Takes $1.5 Billion Stake in Sizewell C Nuclear Project. It comes after a decision by the U.K. government earlier this summer to commit £14.2 billion (US$19 billion) to its construction, promising a "golden age" for nuclear power. For additional information, see June 16, 2025, article - U.K. Commits $19 Billion to New Nuclear Plant.
Benefits for U.K. Industry
"These two contracts represent a major moment for Sizewell C and for energy security in the U.K. - this is about delivering the fuel supply for a project that will power 7% of the U.K.'s energy needs," said Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, joint managing directors of Sizewell C. "This is also another big moment for nuclear jobs in the U.K.. The fuel that will go in our reactors will be low-carbon and predominantly sourced from the U.K., produced by skilled British workers. We've already pledged to deliver 70% of the project's construction value to U.K. businesses, and investing in fuel fabrication here in the U.K. will help us increase that to around 90% across the lifetime of the project. This is what we mean by doing infrastructure differently -- and it puts the U.K.'s energy security and our nuclear supply chain in a much stronger place."
Lord Patrick Vallace, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research & Nuclear, added: "These contracts will reduce our reliance on fuel imports, while supporting 1,000 highly skilled jobs and channeling investment into Cheshire." Last year, Industrial Info reported the government's plans to become the first country in Europe to build an advanced nuclear fuel plant to produce the kind of fuel needed for the next generation of nuclear power reactors. It awarded £196 million (US$245 million) to Urenco to kickstart the process of building a plant to produce high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU). The company will build the facility at its current site in Capenhurst. Around 400 people will be employed when the plant is commissioned in 2031. At the time, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, said the fuel will be used domestically or exported and help "to isolate Russia from global energy markets."
Major Earthworks Contract
Sizewell C has also launched a bulk excavation contract worth £100 million-£250 million in value. It will cover the excavation of more than 3.2 million cubic metres of material from the main construction area. Bids can be submitted via the state-run CompeteFor portal until the end of October. The two-year contract will begin in January 2027 and run until the end of 2028.
Key Takeaways
Summary
First contracts have been signed on the U.K.'s next major nuclear power project at Sizewell C, part of the country's plan to expand its nuclear power resources.
U.K.'s Next Major Nuclear Power Plant
The developer behind the U.K.'s next major nuclear project, Sizewell C, is powering ahead with the announcement of a series of domestic long-term nuclear fuel contracts and the release of a £250 million (US$336 million) earthworks contract.
Sizewell C Ltd (Leiston, Suffolk), which is majority-owned by the U.K. government, has agreed a six-year supply contract with Urenco (Stoke Poges, England) and a long-term fuel fabrication contract with Framatome (Courbevoie, France) for the provision of enriched uranium services and nuclear fuel fabrication, respectively. The former will carry out uranium enrichment at its site at Capenhurst, near Chester in the northwest of England, which Framatome will then turn into fuel for the project at its factory in Romans, France, until its new U.K. facility is available.
The U.K. government is working towards securing its own domestic nuclear fuel pipeline. Like Hinkley Point C, which is currently under construction, Sizewell C in Suffolk will feature two EPR2 reactors from Electricité de France (EDF) (Paris, France) that will produce 3.2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of around 6 million homes. In July, EDF agreed to invest up to £1.1 billion (US$1.5 billion) for a 12.5% stake in the project. For additional information, see July 21, 2025, article - EDF Takes $1.5 Billion Stake in Sizewell C Nuclear Project. It comes after a decision by the U.K. government earlier this summer to commit £14.2 billion (US$19 billion) to its construction, promising a "golden age" for nuclear power. For additional information, see June 16, 2025, article - U.K. Commits $19 Billion to New Nuclear Plant.
Benefits for U.K. Industry
"These two contracts represent a major moment for Sizewell C and for energy security in the U.K. - this is about delivering the fuel supply for a project that will power 7% of the U.K.'s energy needs," said Julia Pyke and Nigel Cann, joint managing directors of Sizewell C. "This is also another big moment for nuclear jobs in the U.K.. The fuel that will go in our reactors will be low-carbon and predominantly sourced from the U.K., produced by skilled British workers. We've already pledged to deliver 70% of the project's construction value to U.K. businesses, and investing in fuel fabrication here in the U.K. will help us increase that to around 90% across the lifetime of the project. This is what we mean by doing infrastructure differently -- and it puts the U.K.'s energy security and our nuclear supply chain in a much stronger place."
Lord Patrick Vallace, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research & Nuclear, added: "These contracts will reduce our reliance on fuel imports, while supporting 1,000 highly skilled jobs and channeling investment into Cheshire." Last year, Industrial Info reported the government's plans to become the first country in Europe to build an advanced nuclear fuel plant to produce the kind of fuel needed for the next generation of nuclear power reactors. It awarded £196 million (US$245 million) to Urenco to kickstart the process of building a plant to produce high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU). The company will build the facility at its current site in Capenhurst. Around 400 people will be employed when the plant is commissioned in 2031. At the time, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, said the fuel will be used domestically or exported and help "to isolate Russia from global energy markets."
Major Earthworks Contract
Sizewell C has also launched a bulk excavation contract worth £100 million-£250 million in value. It will cover the excavation of more than 3.2 million cubic metres of material from the main construction area. Bids can be submitted via the state-run CompeteFor portal until the end of October. The two-year contract will begin in January 2027 and run until the end of 2028.
Key Takeaways
- Preparations start on U.K.'s second major nuclear after Hinkley Point C
- First contracts signed for nuclear fuel and earthworks
- The project will support the U.K.'s shift away from fossil fuels.
