France’s Orano has signed the first four five-year engineering partnerships to support the Back End section of its Future Programme. The signing ceremony took place at its La Hague site in the presence of Corinne Spilios, Director of the group’s Recycling business, Nicolas Ferrand, Director of the Back End of the Future programme, and Guillaume Dureau, Director of Engineering Activities. Also present were representatives of partner companies Capgemini, Egis, ECIA (a branch of Equans France) and SNEFEKIUM.
Orano intends to renew its used fuel processing and recycling plants in the period 2040-2050 as part of a programme known as Back End of the Future. At the same time, Orano will be working to keep its existing facilities in operational condition as part of a programme to ensure the long-term future and resilience of the La Hague (Manche) and Melox (Gard) plants.
The Back End of the Future programme will see the launch of studies for a new mixed oxide (mox) fuel fabrication plant at the La Hague site, which is scheduled to start production in the early 2040s, and for a new used fuel processing plant, also at the La Hague site, by 2045-2050.
In order to carry out these projects, Orano is planning ahead by preparing its engineering department for an increased workload. Orano’s engineering activity is set to double its workforce over the period from 2,000 to 4,000 employees, and is already committed to developing partnerships based on co-construction with players in the nuclear sector.
“Today’s signature represents a key milestone in our Back End of the Future programme,” said Guillaume Dureau. “We are laying the groundwork for the project by means of an industrial plan that will ensure continuity and develop recycling solutions to meet future needs. Based on these partnerships, Orano is getting ready, and committing itself for the long haul, alongside partners who are already recognised players in the nuclear industry.”
Nicolas Ferrand said the signing of these partnership agreements will determine the success of this large-scale programme. “We will work hand-in-hand with our partners in order to ensure that it is successful. This collaboration will be key to ensuring that these exceptional works are completed on time and to budget.”
Meanwhile, Reuters cited an Orano specialist as saying the European Union’s lack of clarity regarding Russian nuclear fuel imports is holding back investment in new uranium enrichment plants. Long-term prices for enriched uranium have risen from $60 per separative work unit (SWU) before the Ukraine war to $166 today, after some Western nuclear power producers reduced imports from Russia.
Russia supplied more than 25% of European and American enriched uranium before the start of the Ukraine war. Rosatom accounts for 43% of installed uranium enrichment capacity, compared with 31% for the European group Urenco and 12% for Orano.
“What is holding operators back a bit from investing in new enrichment capacities is the need for a clear framework,” said Jacques Peythieu, Orano’s Director of Customer & Strategy. “The United States is currently…aiming for zero Russian imports from 2028 – with exceptions – and has customs duties on Chinese imports. Europe is much more timid and does not have a very clear policy on the subject.”
The US implemented a ban on imports of enriched uranium from Russia in August, but enabled companies to apply for waivers until January 2028. However, Europe has no unified approach with individual countries taking different approaches.
Orano is breaking ground on a €1.7bn ($1.86bn) expansion at its fuel enrichment plant in France to meet increasing in demand from its US customers. It also intends to begin enriching uranium in the US in the 2030s as part of a new project at Oak Ridge in Tennessee.
