Industrial accident at centrifuge plant

Two men lost their lives after an accident at the Enrichment Technology manufacturing plant in the Netherlands at Almelo on 29 March. The non-nuclear facility makes and maintains equipment for uranium enrichment.

A police report said that the two men "were injured during operations on the premises" at around 10.30am on 29 March and rushed to hospital with serious injuries. A 54-year-old man from Enschede died on the same day while the other victim, a 44-year-old from Alberton, died in the night of 1-2 April.

National newspaper De Telegraaf reported the men had suffered oxygen deprivation when inspecting an industrial oven. Enrichment Technology has yet to respond to information requests.

Enrichment Technology is a joint venture of Urenco and Areva and manufactures centrifuge equipment for use by its owners at sites in France, Germany, the UK and the USA as well as the Netherlands. Around 850 people work at the company's Almelo centre, which is the main centrifuge production facility as well as its operational headquarters. Reuters reported that Enrichment Technology has suspended operations at its facilities, which are located alongside the Urenco and Areva enrichment plants.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News