French nuclear giant Orano --- formerly Areva – said it had launched its $1.33 billion uranium conversion plant at the Tricastin site in Drome, France, with a ceremony involving 60 international customers and representatives of French and European Union administrations.
The new plant is part of the Orano Tricastin site’s broader industrial modernization program in which the company has invested over 5 billion euros over the past decade.
The facility and the Georges Besse 2 plant at the Tricastin site will be used to manufacture nuclear fuel. Philippe Coste is expected to reach full production capacity in 2021 with an output of 60,000t of uranium hexafluoride per year, about a quarter of the world’s supply. Among its features, the plant is expected to reduce water consumption by 90 percent compared with older technology.
More than 240 companies were involved in construction of the conversion plant, the Orano said.
The new plant replaces the Comurhex conversion plant, also in Trcastin, that was retired in December 2017. Until production capacities are viable, Orano will continue supplying customers from stockpiled product.
Anonymous comments will be moderated. Join for free and post now!
