Uranium tailing facilities dams

The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (further referred to as “the Standard”) was developed after the tragic failure of a tailings facility at Brumadinho, Brazil in 2019, through an independent process convened by International Council of Mining & Metals (ICMM), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). 

The Standard contains 77 requirements integrating social, environmental, local economic and technical considerations in reaching the goal of zero harm to people and the environment.

Orano Mining is committed to complying with the Standard and has transparently disclosed information on its tailings facilities. In 2023, we disclosed information on our tailings facilities classified under the Standard as having “extreme” and “very high” potential consequences. By August 7, 2025 we also disclosed information for the others tailings facilities.

Orano Mining manage some tailings facilities in France (11 facilities), Canada (1 facility) and Gabon (1 facility).

Orano used to report about the tailings storages of COMINAK and SOMAÏR in northern Niger. Following political events of July 2023 that occurred in Niger, Orano has no more physical access to the sites and declared the loss of operational control of those two sites on December 4th, 2024. As a result, Orano can no longer make any disclosure about them, provide any update and therefore cannot include them in its reporting.

Since 2023, Orano Mining has also adopted a tailings management policy to strengthen its processes that are already in place. This policy has been signed by all members of the Board of Orano Mining.   

Orano Mining reaffirms its commitment to safe management of tailings facilities and meaningful collaboration with stakeholders.

Orano Mining is focused on responsible tailings management as a critical business issue and is working to implement the Standard requirements on its tailings facilities and to disclose and update the results on a yearly basis. 

More information about:

• The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management – Global Tailings Review
• ICMM  - Member Disclosures on Progress Towards Conformance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management