Orano - Annual Activity Report 2024 184 4 SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT Environmental information Orano Mining pays particular attention to the reconversion of former mining sites to give them a second life. This management is essential to maintain the trust of local communities, authorities and all stakeholders involved. This is one of the keys to the longterm acceptability of our activities and our “license to operate” by the host communities and countries that host us. As the reconversion of sites is one of the major areas of remediation, Orano Mining is working with various project leaders to set up photovoltaic parks on former mining sites or mine tailing storage. In the choice of sites, Orano Mining has excluded areas with high environmental challenges to allow for the reasoned management of its former mining sites. As such, the group leases its land to a partner which commissioned two photovoltaic power plants in 2024, on the former mining sites of Bessines-sur-Gartempe in the commune of the same name in Haute-Vienne, and Écarpière in Gétigné in Loire-Atlantique. To date, eight solar power plants are in production throughout the territory, and more than ten will be in service throughout France by 2028. Responsible management of tailings Since August 5, 2020, Orano Mining has committed to implementing the global industrial standard for the management of tailings (GISTM) developed by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the Principles for Responsible Investment (a network of investors supported by the United Nations) and the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) after the Brumadinho disaster (Brazil). Supported by an integrated approach to tailings management, this standard aims to prevent catastrophic failures and improve the safety of tailings management facilities worldwide. It embodies a radical change in terms of transparency, accountability and protection of the rights of those affected and concerned by the projects. The standard covers six key topics: affected communities, basic knowledge, design, construction, operation and monitoring of tailings treatment facilities, management and governance, emergency services and long-term remediation, public disclosure and access to information. Orano Mining has transparently published information on its tailings facilities classified as having “extreme” or “very high” potential consequences, as well as its policy for managing the storage of ore processing tailings and industrial effluents. Orano Mining manages two tailings sites respectively classified as having “extreme” and “very high” potential consequences according to the classification of the standard: the Bois Noirs Limouzat (“BNL”) site in France, which ceased its activity in 1980 and the JEB Tailings residue management facility in Canada, currently under expansion. Orano Mining is working on the implementation of the requirements of the standard on its tailings facilities and the disclosure of the results by August 2025, for all facilities. Orano Mining has also adopted a management policy for the storage of ore processing residues and industrial effluents. This policy, signed by all members of the Orano Mining Management Committee, applies to all of its sites. Preventing impacts on the environment and the creation of liabilities through a comprehensive environmental approach Limiting impacts also covers all areas and nuisances specific to each type of facility (bacteriological, visual, biodiversity, noise pollution, pollution related to road and rail traffic, olfactory impacts, vibrations, dust, light emissions, electromagnetic fields, etc.), throughout their lifetime (from design studies to dismantling and post-operation monitoring). Orano’s HSE policy sets a framework and objectives to reduce and control all environmental aspects in an approach proportionate to the issues. This strategy is part of the desire to promote a second life for the sites operated. The objective of minimizing the environmental footprint is based on a structure and organizations at all levels based on the following axes: ● comply with regulatory provisions while preparing for the integration of new requirements; ● prevent and manage risks; ● continuously reduce impact factors (consumption of natural resources, waste, etc.); ● identify and measure the impact of the activity on the environment; and ● research and develop new solutions to limit impacts. This approach applies to the entire lifecycle of the facilities: from new projects to the dismantling of facilities, including operations. As for industrial facilities, a nuclear, mining or chemical facility’s impact study is carried out or updated at each stage of its lifecycle, i.e., upon its creation, substantial modification, shutdown and dismantling/remediation. It is also reviewed (and if necessary updated) at each ten-year review for nuclear facilities. These studies seek to characterize the potential health effects and environmental impacts of stresses and releases from the facility in question, by taking into account the particularities of the local environment (geology, hydrology, meteorology, natural and human environment, etc.) as well as the presence of any protected species or habitats. Accordingly, the impact study considers the presence of these remarkable zones, according to the group’s biodiversity strategy. Prevention of accidental spills Preventing any accidental spills is an issue for Orano because of the potential consequences that can be significant on employees, populations, fauna and flora, and on the creation of environmental liabilities. In the group’s internal requirements, accidental spills of radioactive or hazardous substances into the environment must be taken into account during all phases of the life of the facilities (design, construction, operation, shutdown and dismantling). In application
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