Orano is committed to preserving nature
In line with its climate commitment and aware that the protection of resources and ecosystems is essential, Orano defined a group Nature strategy at the end of 2024.
This three-pillar strategy aims to integrate Nature-related concerns at the heart of group’s facilities and activities, by adopting concrete objectives and solutions to minimize impacts on ecosystems and resources, and to preserve biodiversity.
Preserving Nature by reducing our sources of pressure
Orano implements the « Avoid, Reduce, Offset » (ARO) sequence by prioritizing, for example, for its mining projects, avoidance of remarkable zones.
Systematic ecological diagnostics are carried out before any project in the area of interest for biodiversity for identify any protected species that may be present and define the most suitable avoidance, impact reduction, restoration or compensation measures.
Orano aims by 2030 to ensure that 100% of projects have a prior and appropriate ecological assessment (with systematic analysis vis-à-vis the UNESCO & IUCN protected areas), and avoid as much as possible other areas of interest for biodiversity.
Our 2025 actions:
- Impact studies continued in 2025 at the Zuuvch Ovoo and Dulaan Uul sites in Mongolia to assess the impacts of the In Situ Recovery (ISR) mining project and to propose mitigation measures as well as environmental monitoring principles.
- Katco funded a program to restore the dry bed of the Aral Sea, in partnership with the Committee for Forests and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology of Kazakhstan. This initiative is not just about planting trees. It makes it possible to restore an ecological balance and play a role in the prevention of desertification.
For its mines, the group is prohibited from exploring a site located in an area with high biodiversity stakes according to the standard of UNESCO or the International Union for Conservation of Nature (categories 1 and 2).
The group
intends to have a responsible, rational and sober water consumption with:
- the reduction of specific consumption by at least 25% by 2030 (compared to 2019) for major contributors located in water risk areas,
- and new installations with minimized consumption, based on an eco-design approach
- an incentive for our suppliers exposed to water risks to remain sober.
Living with Nature on and around our sites
Several of the sites in Orano are located near areas of ecological interest, or manage green spaces (on site) or natural areas (outdoors). Thus, one of the challenges is to coexist with the surrounding biodiversity by becoming aware of its value, notably through the implementation of differentiated management plans and the fight against invasive species.
An environmental impact study (EIA) is carried out for each new project or as soon as a major modification of industrial installations is expected. It is complemented by regular local inventories with, for example, standardized rating methods to monitor and assess the impact of activities on biodiversity.
The Orano group has set itself the goal of having recent inventories (less than 10 years) for all its operational sites by the end of 2025, in particular for its mining sites. Some species, such as the peregrine falcon, which come to find refuge on certain sites of the group, are subject to a specific surveillance.
On the issue of water, Orano intends to implement a water strategy at local level to anticipate potential conflicts of use in a "watershed" approach.
Our 2025 actions:
- The three sites, Orano Tricastin, La Hague, and Malvési, have worked on updating their green space management plans to better integrate the "biodiversity" aspect into current practices.
- In 2025, Orano set up a partnership with two design and landscape schools and carried out a field mission to Orano Tricastin to work on several concrete use cases: integration of a new tertiary building, arrangements to promote soft mobility on the site, enhancement of local biodiversity, etc.
Valuing Nature and reporting on our actions
Orano is also committed to promoting actions for the enhancement of local biodiversity with stakeholders, to report on and raise awareness among different audiences about its protection, including employees present on site. Partnerships with NGOs, state services and experts are also favored so that the group can benefit from advice and support actions aimed at enhancing biodiversity.
These actions also concern raising the awareness of Orano employees about Nature issues.
Our 2025 actions:
- Orano has been a member since 2021 of the B4B+ business club, managed by the Caisse des dépôts et consignations Biodiversité, and participates in the work of the "value chain" group.
- Orano Mining held a photo contest to highlight the diversity and richness of nature present on and around the mining sites of Orano Mining and its subsidiaries
Orano plans to mobilize the group’s innovation in the service of water and ecosystem preservation. In collaboration with an external organization, a forwardlooking approach called “water adventure” was implemented during 2025. Its objective was to identify the issues impacting the vulnerability of the group’s activities. It proceeded in several phases: a cycle of six conferences on the challenges of the water cycle, conflicts of use, the risks of floods and droughts, technological innovations, groundwater, and water preservation through the biomimetic approach; participation in a shared working group involving many external stakeholders; the organization of an internal working group involving consumer entities.
- Energy & Climate Orano has committed in an Climate strategy for many years, driven by its strategic vision, its commitments and its HSE Policy.
- Purpose and commitments Through its business, Orano intends to contribute to the fight against global warming by improving access to competitive, low-carbon electricity for all, to the preservation of resources through recycling and to health through nuclear medicine, notably in the fight against cancer.