A major step forward in global nuclear safeguards has been made with the launch of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Centre of Excellence at Urenco’s Capenhurst site in the UK. This state-of-the-art facility, set to be fully operational by 2025, will play a key role in enhancing international nuclear verification efforts.

The Centre of Excellence, the first of its kind globally, will focus on the development, testing, and training of nuclear verification technologies. It is the result of a collaboration between the IAEA, Urenco’s owners - the governments of the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany - along with the US government. The facility is housed in a repurposed gas centrifuge enrichment plant at Capenhurst.

This initiative aims to bolster the effectiveness of IAEA safeguards, which are crucial in ensuring that nuclear facilities worldwide are used solely for peaceful purposes. The centre will provide a dedicated environment for research and training, directly supporting the IAEA’s mission to independently verify the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The launch event at Capenhurst was attended by representatives from the IAEA and the involved governments. Urenco CEO Boris Schucht expressed pride in the company’s role, stating,

We are proud to contribute to this international effort by building a dedicated facility at our UK site.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasised the centre’s importance in staying ahead of technological advances, crucial for the IAEA's role as a global nuclear watchdog.

Urenco, which operates uranium enrichment facilities in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the USA, continues to support global non-proliferation efforts while ensuring a stable supply of nuclear fuel for power generation.

Source: www.world-nuclear-news.org "IAEA Centre of Excellence launched at Capenhurst" Researched and written by World Nuclear News.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/IAEA-Centre-of-Excellence-launched-at-Capenhurst