During Urenco’s enrichment process, depleted uranium hexafluoride (UF6), also known as tails, is made as a by-product. Tails still contain a low concentration of uranium235 and can be re-enriched if economically viable.
We store tails at our enrichment facilities in internationally approved containers pending further re-enrichment or deconversion to a chemically stable form, uranium oxide (U3O8), for long term storage until final disposal.
In 2010, Urenco received regulatory and planning approval to build a Tails Management Facility (TMF) at our Capenhurst site. Now operational, it is responsible for deconverting UF6 to U3O8.
We are proud of the fact that, during the construction and commissioning of the TMF, we have achieved more than 7 million hours of safe working. The TMF was one of the safest construction sites in the UK.
