UK-US partnership for HALEU transport packages

Pegasus, a cylindrical package design, is aimed at being "the world-leading transport package" for high-assay low-enriched uranium fuel (HALEU), Nuclear Transport Solutions said.

In December 2024, Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) was awarded funding by the UK government to spearhead the development of transport capabilities for the UK's future use of HALEU. The GBP10.5 million (USD14.4 million) in funding was to support four key areas of work: the creation of a UK HALEU collaborative forum for industry partners; the development of various HALEU packages which can transport the fuel in its multiple forms; the development of a road transport solution for the domestic transport of HALEU materials to and from UK facilities; and a maritime solution for the international export of HALEU from the UK. At the time of receiving the funding, NTS said it would co-fund and deliver a multi-year programme of work alongside government and nuclear sector partners to develop the key technologies, capabilities and assets required to transport HALEU materials for use in the UK and export overseas.

"The UK-US agreement reinforces secure, reliable energy supply in both countries," said NTS, which is part of the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). "It formalises the sharing of technical expertise, safety protocols, and design insights between NTS and Westinghouse, accelerating development of Pegasus for deployment. It also strengthens collaboration on engineering, regulatory compliance, and fuel handling standards."

NTS Co-CEO Ben Whittard said: "This partnership allows us to deliver our expertise in the secure transport of advanced nuclear fuel in the UK and US. The growth of AI and the need for reliable, ultra-low carbon energy demonstrates the importance of nuclear power in our future, and we're thrilled to be at the forefront of its development."

"This agreement is yet another example of how the NDA group is driving forward the government's ambition to become a clean energy superpower," added NDA group CEO David Peattie. "Pegasus represents a transformative step in advancing the UK's energy independence and low-carbon ambitions, unlocking export potential and cementing the nation’s role as a world leader in nuclear innovation. It also further reinforces NTS's place as a global leader in delivering safe, secure, and dependable nuclear transport and logistics solutions."

"We are very pleased with our new collaboration with NTS to co-develop the Pegasus HALEU transport package," said Sophie Lemaire, interim co-president of Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel. "This is an important step in making HALEU available in the US and UK."

In May 2024, the UK government announced it was awarding GBP196 million to Urenco to build a uranium enrichment facility at its Capenhurst site in northwest England with the capacity to produce up to 10 tonnes of HALEU per year by 2031.

HALEU - uranium enriched to between 5% and 20% uranium-235 - will be used in the advanced nuclear fuel required for most of the next-generation reactor designs currently under development. At present, only Russia and China have the infrastructure to produce HALEU at scale. The first advanced reactors are scheduled to be operational in the early 2030s.