EN FR menu CONVERSION International expert in uranium processing After the natural uranium ore extraction process, conversion is a key step in providing nuclear power plants with fuel adapted to the needs of nuclear reactors. With an integrated industrial platform unparalleled worldwide, Orano Group is one of the global leaders in uranium conversion and enrichment activities. Em3 workshop test before production, site of Tricastin, France © Eric Larrayadieu / Orano CONVERSION, ENRICHMENT INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES ECO-RESPONSIBLE SITE CONVERSION, ENRICHMENT Orano, a major international player in uranium conversion An expert in uranium transformation, purification, enrichment & fluorine chemistry Safe, reliable and competitive operations INDUSTRIAL PLATFORM A uranium conversion plan like none other worldwide Industrial facilities recognized all over the world The conversion and enrichment operations are carried out across two sites, in Malvési and Tricastin. Underpinned by this unique integrated industrial platform and thanks to its upgraded facilities - Comurhex II for conversion and Georges Besse II for enrichment - Orano offers its customers the most modern infrastructures in the world, recognized across the market for its technical skills and state-of-the-art processes. High added-value processing operations serving its clients The only industrial players capable of receiving concentrates in all forms, with an industrial platform that also offers warehousing capacity in compliance with all authorizations held. It makes it possible to deploy custom-tailored services in accordance with customer needs: conversion, defluorination and denitration. Production capacity suited to current developments With its Comurhex II plants for conversion and the Georges Besse II plants for enrichment, the two major transformation activities have entered a new era. The modularity of Georges Besse II gives these two plants the potential to evolve according to market demand and needs. Securing long-term supply for its customers Thanks to its safe, reliable and competitive European presence, Orano is able to secure supply for its customers' and the sustainability of its operations for the next 40 years. Front-End Solutions to Your Business Needs – Uranium Mining, Chemistry, Enrichment Download Comurhex II Comurhex II © Orano CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES Cutting-edge technologies serving top performance Uranium conversion as a strategic step for reaching “nuclear purity” An essential stage, in the upstream fuel cycle, between the recovery of natural uranium from mines and the enrichment phase, conversion consists of purifying and transforming uranium ore. These conversion and enrichment activities precede the final stage of fuel fabrication for nuclear power plant reactors. Conversion is carried out in two stages, at two complementary sites: Conversion plant of UF4 to UF6 Comurhex II Pierrelatte. Site of Tricastin (France) © LARRAYADIEU ERIC 1) Purifying: the ability to process any type of uranium ore The Malvési (Aude) site purifies uranium concentrates from mines around the world and converts them into uranium tetrafluoride (UF4). The site provides thermal denitration services using an innovative and unique process worldwide, Isoflash (UO3), which eliminates chemical product input, in particular ammonia. Hydrofluorination then consists of adding 4 fluorine atoms to a natural uranium atom to obtain uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) 2) Conversion into UF6 (Orano Tricastin) Specialized in fluorine and uranium chemistry in all forms, the Tricastin site (Drôme), with 55 years of know-how, has become a reference industrial platform. Its activities include completing the transformation of UF4 into uranium hexafluoride (UF6), by adding 2 additional fluorine atoms before enrichment. Uranium enrichment: technologies enabling premium performance From natural uranium to combustible uranium To be usable as fuel in reactors, uranium must have a concentration of 2 to 5% uranium 235. Since natural uranium contains only 0.7%, enrichment operations will increase its concentration. Separating uranium 235 and uranium 238 by centrifugation Under the effect of centrifugal force, molecules are separated. This isotopic separation step is repeated in series. After these operations in cascade, the enriched UF6 is extracted directly into a suitable cylinder before solidifying in a dedicated station. The depleted UF6 is extracted into another cylinder which is also cooled. Quality control of enriched UF6 The production of enriched UF6 is sampled then conditioned in cylinders to be shipped to the fuel manufacturer. A high-performance technology with a smaller environmental footprint Ensuring UF₆ quality: it is Moana and his team’s mission ItsMyJob: Moana Mauru, head of UF₆ analysis laboratory at the Tricastin site © So On Pictures Recognized for its know-how in uranium reconditioning Two different chemical processes are used to recover depleted uranium into uranium oxide (U3O8), in safe and easily storable forms. Defluorination processing uranium for safe storage before reuse Uranium enrichment generates UF6 depleted in recoverable isotope 235. It is then sent to the Tricastin defluorination plant, to be transformed into uranium oxide U3O8. U3O8, insoluble and stable material, can be safely stored before further recycling. W plant, defluorination of the depleted uranium. Tricastin site. France © Larrayadieu Eric Denitration, recycling uranium from spent fuel processing After 4 years in a reactor, the fuel still contains 95% uranium.After processing at the La Hague plant, uranium is conditioned into uranyl nitrate and transported to the Tricastin site. The uranyl nitrate is denitrated for reconditioning as uranium oxide for safe and stable storage prior to subsequent reuse. Denitration, recycling uranium from spent fuel processing - Tricastin site. France © Orano ECO-RESPONSIBLE SITE An innovative and eco-responsible site An efficient industrial tool, a reduced environmental footprint Orano is the first manufacturer in the world to have fully refurbished its conversion plants to step up operational safety and reduce its environmental footprint. The new industrial facilities at the Malvési and Tricastin sites thus have innovative processes and use new technologies that enable it to minimize in its environmental footprint. Leading uranium producer With mines operating in Canada, Kazakhstan and Niger, Orano is a leading world producer of uranium. World leader in recycling used nuclear fuels As the world's leader in reprocessing and recycling used nuclear fuels, Orano offers its expertise in the recovery and re-use of nuclear materials. Uranium transformation : nos implantations With the Tricastin and Malvési plants, Orano has a state-of-the-art industrial facility in line with the latest safety and security standards. Nuclear Expertise Innovation Careers Canada China USA Cominak Remediation Tricastin Melox La Hague Malvési Logistics Engineering CIME LEA Orano Innovation PME Orano Med RSE Mining News Group Finance Press Legal Notice Contact Cookies Settings By clicking “I accept Cookies”, you agree with the cookies use to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage and compile statistics. To get more information, please read our Cookies Policy in the Legal Notice I accept cookies I refuse cookies