Orano Cycle
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Nuclear fuel cycle |
| Predecessor | COGEMA |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Headquarters | France |
Area served | Worldwide (over 30 countries) |
| Products | Uranium extraction, conversion, enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing, recycling |
Number of employees | 19000 |
| Parent | Orano S.A. |
Orano Cycle, previously known as COGEMA (Compagnie générale des matières nucléaires) and later as Areva NC, is a French enterprise specializing in nuclear fuel and serves as the principal subsidiary of Orano S.A.. Its activities encompass the full uranium fuel cycle, including uranium extraction, conversion, enrichment, spent fuel reprocessing, and recycling processes.
Established in 1976, the company became integrated into Areva in 2001 and adopted the name Areva NC in 2006. Following a corporate reorganization of Areva, it was renamed Orano Cycle.
History
The origins trace back to 1976 with the creation of Compagnie générale des mines, formed from uranium production operations of the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA), which was subsequently renamed Compagnie Générale des Matières Nucléaire (COGEMA). By 1999, COGEMA’s ownership was predominantly held by CEA (81.5%), while Total S.A. possessed 15% and Technip 3.5%; these entities also maintained shares in Framatome and Eramet.
In June 2001, Cogema became part of the Topco group, which was renamed Areva in September 2001. Areva NC commenced construction of a uranium enrichment facility at the Tricastin site in 2006 and initiated the Comurhex II uranium conversion projects at Malvési and Tricastin in 2008.
The renaming to Orano Cycle occurred in 2018 as part of Areva’s broader restructuring efforts.
Operations
Headquartered in France, Areva NC operates across more than 30 countries with an international workforce numbering approximately 19,000 employees. Within France, it oversees significant nuclear locations such as the reprocessing plant at La Hague, Marcoule nuclear site, Pierrelatte (Tricastin), and the Cadarache center.
Orano Cycle controls uranium reserves situated in Niger, Canada, Australia, and Kazakhstan. The final French mining operation, La Société des Mines de Jouac, ceased activity in 2001 due to resource exhaustion.
Concessions
Areva NC’s presence in Niger encompasses three concessions near Arlit, operated through joint ventures with minority interests held by the Nigerien government alongside other investors. The town of Arlit was developed to support these mining activities and accommodates a substantial expatriate workforce employed by Areva and its subcontractors. The principal ventures include Somair (Société des Mines de l'Aïr), an open-pit uranium mine, and COMINAK (Compagnie Minière d'Akouta). In 2005, these mines yielded 3,093 metric tonnes of uranium—representing roughly 10% of global production, supplying 30% of France’s demand, and accounting for 32% of Niger’s exports—although their contribution to Niger’s GDP remained below 5%. The surge in uranium prices during 2006 significantly enhanced Niger's revenues from Areva operations.
2007 conflict with Niger
On July 25, 2007, Dominique Pin, CEO of Areva-Niger, was expelled from the country amid allegations of involvement with the Second Tuareg Rebellion. This incident coincided with ongoing negotiations regarding a uranium trade agreement that was renewed on August 1, 2007. The unrest caused interruptions to Areva’s mining activities late that year; however, expansion initiatives recommenced by early 2008 despite persistent security challenges.
Areva obtained a concession at Imouraren with plans to increase production capacity two- to threefold within Niger. In January 2008, the company pledged more than €1 billion towards its Niger operations while agreeing to raise government revenue shares by 50%. Nevertheless, competition intensified as over one hundred new uranium concessions were granted across Niger, attracting entrants from Canadian and Chinese firms.
In July 2008, four French employees were briefly abducted near Arlit but were soon released unharmed. Rebel actions by the Movement Nigerien for Justice (MNJ) hindered ore transportation during early to mid-2008. Despite these disturbances, by late 2008 Areva NC and Niger’s government maintained continuous mining and transport operations from Arlit to export ports in Benin.
Imouraren mine
At the beginning of 2009, an agreement was reached between Niger and the French state-owned mining enterprise to develop the Imouraren mine near Arlit. Areva owns a 66% share, while the Nigerien mining authority holds the remaining 33%. Expected to yield 5,000 tonnes of uranium ore each year, the project was designed to become the largest uranium mine worldwide by 2012, succeeding the SOMAIR and COMINAK operations. This arrangement elevated Niger to the position of the world's second-largest uranium producer and incorporated plans for establishing a civilian nuclear power facility. Although security issues arose earlier in the year, by December, activities had not been disrupted by the Tuareg insurgency. Despite nearly 100 exploration licenses being granted to companies other than Areva in 2007, prominent initiatives from Chinese and Canadian firms had yet to be officially launched by 2009.
Long term relations
Areva has encountered criticism both within Niger and internationally for holding an almost exclusive control over uranium mining for nearly forty years, even as Niger remains among the globe’s poorest nations. There is speculation that Areva has played a significant role in prolonging French governmental involvement in Niger’s political affairs since the late 1960s.
The company portrays itself as an advocate for environmental protection and a partner in development, employing predominantly local personnel and generating Niger’s largest source of foreign currency income. During Niger’s famine in 2005, Areva contributed roughly 250,000 euros in relief aid—approximately 0.05% of its yearly profits of 428 million euros—prompting criticism regarding the modest scale of its donation.
In January 2008, a Swiss human rights organization presented Areva’s Niger operations with the "2008 Public Eye Global Award" due to concerns over unsafe working conditions, radioactive contamination, and fatalities among workers. These issues have also been highlighted by Tuareg rebel factions active around Arlit.
Cezus
Cezus (CEZUS), a subsidiary of Areva NC, functions as the front-end supplier for zirconium. It provides materials to Areva's Reactors and Services division by manufacturing zirconium alloy tubes, bars, and sheets used in pressurized water reactors and boiling water reactors. Alongside the ANF facility in Duisburg, Germany, it constitutes Areva's Fuel Zirconium Division. Cezus operates five locations across France and is acknowledged by the commune of Ugine as the world leader in zirconium production.
Jarrie
This site, located in Isère, produces zirconium sponge through chemical and metallurgical methods. It also manufactures related substances including hafnium salt, magnesium, silicon, zirconium and hafnium oxides, as well as high-purity hafnium.
Montreuil-Juigné
Based in Maine-et-Loire, this plant converts extruded billets into extruded tubes known as trex.
Painboeuf
Located in Loire-Atlantique, this facility along with the Duisburg plant performs pilger rolling on Trex tubes to create fuel rods consisting of claddings and guide tubes. Painboeuf additionally fabricates zirconium bars used for end caps.
Rugles
Situated in Eure, Rugles carries out hot and cold rolling processes on slabs to produce coils and strips employed in fuel assembly components.
Ugine
The primary research and development facility of Cezus, known as the CRC, is situated in Ugine, Savoie. This center employs a team of 25 engineers and technicians who specialize in metallurgy and processing of zirconium-based alloys. It maintains partnerships with the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) as well as various academic institutions. The CRC is dedicated to creating advanced alloys for fuel assembly applications and developing software solutions related to zirconium sponge production, alloy forming, and conversion techniques.
Founded in 1971 with an initial workforce of 360, the Ugine plant manages operations such as melting, forging, extrusion, and recycling of reactive metals including zirconium, hafnium, and titanium. These metals serve both nuclear and aerospace industries. The facility manufactures semifinished zirconium alloy items like billets, slabs, and bars.
Subsidiary: Société Timet Savoie (specializing in titanium).
Additionally, the Ugine location is remembered as the workplace of Sylvain Mollier, who was among the victims of the Annecy shootings.
External links
- Areva NC, official website