Urenco USA Expands Uranium Enrichment with Fifth New Cascade in New Mexico

Urenco USA has brought its fifth new cascade online at its uranium enrichment plant in New Mexico. The milestone arrives ahead of schedule and within budget. It marks another step in the company’s expansion plans. The new cascade is part of a wider programme to add 700,000 separative work units (SWU) of enrichment capacity by early 2027. In March 2026, the project passed its halfway point when the fourth cascade entered production.

A centrifuge storage building is currently under construction. It will house equipment removed during refurbishment of existing cascades, with completion expected in early 2027. Refurbishment work on older cascades will begin that same year as part of ongoing capital investments.

Looking further ahead, Urenco USA plans to start building a new 2.1 million SWU enrichment plant in 2029. The first cascades at this facility are set to begin production in 2032, with construction continuing until 2036. By then, the site’s total installed capacity will exceed 7 million SWU. John Kirkpatrick, Managing Director of Urenco USA, said the company’s projects support the growth of the US nuclear industry. The latest cascade strengthens capacity now, while future developments will expand it further. All work remains on track with the stated timelines and financial plans.