Strategic Business

From ore to UF4

Uranium, the raw material extracted from the mine, cannot be used directly in its original state. In order to become a nuclear fuel suitable for use in power plants to generate electricity, it must be transformed. The purpose of the Orano Malvési plant is to receive the uranium ore concentrates, to chemically purify them and to carry out the first stage of the conversion process.

A strategic activity for France and for the international marketplace

A plant serving electricity producers all around the world

The Orano Malvési plant, in France's Aude department, handles the first phase of uranium conversion, which consists in purifying the natural uranium ore supplied by the mines, and thereby to produce uranium tetrafluoride (UF4). The degree of purification achieved by the Orano process at Malvési is such that it can treat any type of uranium ore, whatever its origin. The second transformation stage, which completes the conversion to uranium hexafluoride (UF6), is carried out at the Orano Tricastin site in the southern Rhône valley of southeastern France (Drôme department).

Through these chemical transformation operations, four fluorine atoms are added to each uranium atom. The industrial process used to do this employ chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, and ammonia. The conversion operations are designed give the natural uranium concentrates, arriving from the mines, the degree of purity necessary for the fabrication of nuclear fuel.

60

years of experience in the industry

220

employees

150

indirect jobs (subcontractors)

240

acres, of which 20 acres are occupied by the industrial facility

180 Million

number of homes around the world that can be supplied with energy thanks to Orano's uranium conversion activities

A state-of-the-art industrial facility compliant with the very latest safety standards

The modernization of the site's industrial plant in recent years, replacing the original installations, has made it possible to incorporate the latest improvements and innovations resulting from Orano's research and development programs.

Since 2007, Orano has been investing in the Tricastin and Malvési sites to upgrade production capacity. A total of 300 million euros has been invested at Malvési through the COMURHEX II project to completely renew and modernize its industrial facilities. The site has seen the construction of 3 new process areas to replace original facilities, as well as the revamping of other existing facilities.

Major priorities for the design of the new industrial assets were to achieve the highest level of safety and to reduce the environmental footprint. Accordingly, they incorporate the very latest improvements and innovations resulting from the Orano group's research and development programs.

The implementation of new processes through the technological innovations deployed allows for a significant reduction in the site's environmental footprint. These developments also make it possible to recycle 50% of the nitric acid used and reduce ammonia consumption by 75%. In addition, with the new technologies used for the COMURHEX II program, withdrawals of water from the natural environment can be reduced by a factor of 10, with the implementation of a closed-loop cooling system for the facilities.

75% REDUCTION IN AMMONIA CONSUMPTION, 50% RECYCLING OF NITRIC ACID

A policy of preventive and corrective maintenance, incorporating feedback from other industrial sites, guarantees the highest level of safety and security.

Regular inspections:
In addition to our internal controls, the regulatory authorities carry out periodic inspections.

Internal response teams and first-rate technical resources

The Orano Malvési site has its own dedicated human and technical response resources.
These effectively complement those of the teams of the Aude departement's Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS) with whom the establishment has signed a framework agreement . Safety exercises are carried out several times a year in conjunction with firefighters from the SDIS and from the national gendarmerie.

Internal resources:

85 response team members trained in fire and chemical risk management techniques
60 workplace first-aiders
3 nurses present during regular hours
1 occupational physician present on site or by teleconsultation
1 multi-purpose fire and chemical risk truck
Radiological monitoring equipment

Protection and monitoring of staff and outside contractors
Measures to protect employees and contractors from ionizing radiation are a top priority for the Malvési site. Radiological exposure is monitored continuously.

0,039 mSv

is the mean radiological exposure value for personnel at the site in 2019, which is 60 times less than average exposure to natural radioactivity in France of 2.4 mSv

Malvési