Orano signs partnership with Fret SNCF to develop its carbon-free transport in France and Europe

On the occasion of the WNE (World Nuclear Exhibition), and following the acquisition announced on November 2, 2021 of the company, Société de Transports Spéciaux Industriels (STSI), by Orano Nuclear Packages and Services (Orano NPS), a strategic partnership has been signed between Fret SNCF, STSI and Orano NPS to promote the development of rail transport of Orano nuclear materials in Europe.

For Orano, the objective of this partnership is to decarbonize group transport by developing the rail mode and to boosting its international transport by relying on the rail equipment and operational bases of the three companies in Europe.

Compared to road transportation, rail transport significantly reduces energy consumption as well as the emission of harmful particles and CO2.¹

This partnership will enable Orano to diversify and develop its exceptional, indivisible mass, and exceptional packages transport activities for its European customers by relying on the complementarity of the expertise and logistics resources of the three companies (Orano NPS, STSI and Fret SNCF).

Philippe Knoche, Orano group CEO, declared, “This partnership with Fret SNCF is part of our strategy of diversifying the transport modes provided by the group which is in line with our ambition to reduce the carbon footprint of our industrial and logistics activities.”

For Frédéric Delorme, Rail Logistics Europe² President, “This partnership underscores the strengths of long-distance rail freight for the development of the French and international nuclear industry.  Fret SNCF is able to meet very specific needs in this particularly demanding field in terms of safety, quality and reliability of its logistics. We have shown that rail freight is a strong link in today's low-carbon industrial logistics and in that of tomorrow."