Against the backdrop of nuclear renewal, Orano is delivering solutions for major strategic projects. These point to how key a role the group is set to play in tomorrow’s nuclear industry, responding to the challenges of climate change and energy sovereignty.
A STRATEGY DFOR PROCESSING-RECYCLING BEYOND 2040
Reusable materials contained in spent fuels (uranium and plutonium, around 96% in total) are processed by Orano La Hague and can then be used by the Orano Melox plant to make recycled fuels. The significant investments for the Orano La Hague site confirm that processing-recycling is a valued center of excellence of French industry and are testimony to the know-how developed over nearly six decades in Orano plants.
CAPACITIES FOR URANIUM ENRICHMENT EXTENDED
The project to extend the Georges Besse 2 plant at the Orano Tricastin site will increase the group’s enrichment capacities by nearly 30%, or 2.5 million SWUs. Starting in 2028, this additional capacity will replace some of the procurements of Russian enriched uranium for the Western market. The uranium produced will supply the equivalent of 120 million households with low-carbon energy.
RENEWAL OF MINING CAPACITIES
As the third largest uranium mining company in the world, Orano represents around 15% of the international uranium market with its sites in Canada, Kazakhstan, and Niger. To continue to ensure security of uranium supply, Orano is strengthening its cooperation with Uzbekistan and developing a new mining project with Mongolia.
This policy of diversification enables Orano to maintain more than 20 years of resources and reserves for its customers.
FUELS FOR FOURTH-GENERATION REACTORS
Orano supports the development of new reactor and SMR designs and supplies fuel with the properties needed to achieve maximum safety at a competitive production cost. Orano is also working with the entire start-up ecosystem on the development of innovative solutions to reduce the quantity and lifespan of nuclear waste.
DEVELOPING AND RECRUITING TALENT
The goal of tripling nuclear energy capacities in the world by 2050 makes it necessary to recruit and train highly qualified women and men and to win their loyalty. This is a major challenge for the sector, which will need to hire up to 100,000 people in the next 10 years! Orano wants to attract the necessary skills and talents by making around 2,000 permanent contract hires per year and by training 1,000 trainees and interns each year.