Orano - Annual Activity Report 2025 234 4 SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT Social and societal information 4.3.4.2 Continuity and cost of energy for citizens Affordable, low-carbon electricity is a challenge for society. It is a fundamental human right to live in a decent and safe environment. According to INSEE, electricity consumption represented 2.3% of the average budget of a French household in 2016. In its 2021 report, the French Court of Auditors estimated the total cost of nuclear electricity between 40 and 60 euros/MWh, via the LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) method. Orano estimates the share of the cost related to fuel at 15%. In 2024, 65% of French electricity produced was of nuclear origin. The group also serves around 200 electricity companies in 30 countries. Through its actions, the group contributes to the continuity of electricity supply and the final cost for French citizens and all those in countries where it delivers. Policy and actions on electricity continuity and cost for citizens Through its strategy, Orano sets out its priorities for action, namely: ● a program to renew its facilities and extend capacity; ● a performance program, Opteam26, based on industrial policies, an operational excellence channel, and innovation and digital transformation plans. Ongoing renewal of mining production capacities Orano Mining is investing in production capacity extensions in Canada and Kazakhstan, as well as in exploration projects to ensure a responsible and long-term supply. In July 2025, Orano Mining announced the first commercial production of uranium ore using the SABER method at the McClean Lake mine, in partnership with Denison Mines. This innovative method, which is performed from the surface without digging, allows for more efficient and less invasive extraction. This highgrade ore is processed at the McClean Lake plant. In Kazakhstan, the South Tortkuduk site, operated by the Katco joint venture (Orano 49%, Kazatomprom 51%), inaugurated on July 3, 2025, is now fully operational. It has a processing capacity of 2,000 metric tons of uranium per year and is expected to extend the life of Katco’s production through the exploitation of new uranium-rich zones. Katco’s teams continue to work so that the site can reach its full production capacity of 4,000 metric tons of uranium by 2026. In January 2025, Orano signed the investment agreement to develop and commission the Zuuvch Ovoo mining project, located in south-eastern Mongolia, in the Dornogovi province. The uranium resources of this deposit are estimated at nearly 90,000 metric tons – by Badrakh Energy, a joint venture owned by Orano and the Mongolian state-owned group MonAtom. Planned to last 30 years, this project represents a total CapEx of 1.6 billion US dollars over the life of the mine, with the creation of 1,600 direct and indirect jobs. Opteam26, performance at the heart of the group’s strategic priorities In line with previous performance plans, in 2024 the group launched its new plan, Opteam26, in order to anchor the performance dynamic at the group level and improve financial performance. The main levers of Opteam26 are to challenge processes with a view to individual and collective efficiency, improve plant reliability and control costs in a context of high inflation. Like all manufacturers, Orano is facing an increase in energy and raw material prices. Thus, this plan emphasizes energy savings and efficiency actions, on the one hand, and the “just-as-needed” use of reagents and raw materials for our plants, on the other hand. In a positive context of business development, the group must also ensure that it maintains an environment of frugality for this development to be profitable. In 2025, the various performance plans launched at industrial sites made it possible to keep to production programs for most plants. Orano is continuing to roll out its SHIFT digital transformation program. In early 2025, the group published an AI Usage Charter incorporating responsibility, environment and social issues. 2025 IN ACTION Deployment of AI to support production The group organizes a traveling event, the “Data & AI Tour” to discover and discuss data and artificial intelligence. It aims to raise employee awareness of the challenges related to data and artificial intelligence, through interactive conferences, exchanges and social events, including: ● the AI Fresk (workshop) dedicated to managers at the Bessines-sur-Gartempe industrial site, to collaboratively explore the impact of AI on our businesses and our daily lives; ● the Data & AI Forum open to all employees, with the option to register for several complementary themes around digital transformation and data. A program to renew and extend the capacity of its nuclear facilities In recent years, Orano has renewed part of its production capacity and now operates plants among the world’s most modern in their sector. These renewals have also led to improvements in terms of safety and the environment, thanks to the choice of the best available technologies. Thus, the Georges Besse II enrichment plants replaced the Eurodif Production plant, which, until June 2012, produced enriched uranium by gaseous diffusion. The design of these new enrichment plants allows operation according to the highest safety and security standards, with reduced energy consumption compared to gaseous diffusion.
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