12 Oct (NucNet): The UK plans to sell its stake in the European uranium enrichment company, Urenco, prime minister Gordon Brown said today.
Mr Brown said Urenco was among a portfolio of assets the government expects to put up for sale over the next two years to help raise some 16 billion pounds (about 17 billion euro; 25 billion US dollars) to reduce the national deficit.
Urenco would be included in the assets sale “subject to security issues being addressed”, Mr Brown told a meeting of leading economic commentators in London. A formal announcement will be made at a later date.
The UK holds one third of shares in Urenco. One third of shares are held by the Dutch government and the remainder by German utilities RWE and E.On.
Urenco is 100 percent owner of the National Enrichment Facility (NEF) in the US state of New Mexico through its Louisiana Energy Services subsidiary. The NEF is expected to be ready for operations as scheduled by the end of this year.
The group also owns a 50 percent interest in Enrichment Technology Company Limited, a joint venture company jointly owned with France’s Areva group.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
US National Enrichment Facility Approaching Start-Up (News in Brief No. 110, 26 August 2009)
Urenco Loan Facility To Help Expand Enrichment Capacity (World Nuclear Review No. 39, 25 September 2009)
