Skip to main content

Orano commissions new uranium conversion plant (France)

Following the completion of a comprehensive test programme, the French nuclear company Orano has commissioned the €850m Philippe Coste uranium conversion plant at the Tricastin site in southern France. The flame reactor, the major equipment of the plant's industrial process, is now operational. The converted uranium will then be enriched in the neighbouring George Besse II facility, also located on the Tricastin site. Production will ramp up in the coming months to 7,500 tU/year in 2019 and 15,000 tU/year by 2021.



The project is part of the broader Comurhex II project, which was launched in 2006. Initially expected to cost €650m, it will enable Orano to convert yellowcake (uranium ore) in uranium hexafluoride (UF6), through the renovation of three facilities at the Malvési site (Aude, France) and the construction of the Philippe Coste plant at Tricastin.



But after the Fukushima disaster, Orano had to strengthen the safety of the installations and the total cost of Comurhex II now reaches €1.15bn, including €850m for the Philippe Coste plant and €350m for the Malvési facilities. Comurhex II replaces the Comurhex I plant, which was retired in December 2017 after 55 years of production.