Orano - Annual Activity Report 2024 234 4 SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT Social and societal information 4.3.4.2 Continuity and cost for the citizen Policy and actions in terms of continuity and cost of electricity for the citizen 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%. 70% of French electricity is 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. In addition to the culture of nuclear safety and the prevention of industrial incidents, Orano promotes a culture of continuous performance as an essential value. This culture is based on a comprehensive and structured approach based on several pillars: ambitious long-term industrial and facilities modernization policies and an operational excellence program deployed as close as possible to the field, a performance plan rolled out in all activities, supported by coherent digital transformation and innovation plans. A program to renew its 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. Launched in 2006, the Comurhex II program consisted of renewing three workshops at the Malvési site and building a new plant on the Tricastin site to replace the Comurhex 1 conversion plant. The “Philippe Coste” facility (ICPE SEVESO high threshold) was built to nuclear standards. It allows reinforced containment of the material: protected concrete buildings with autonomous ventilation, compartmentalization of the main building into 200 rooms, increased resistance to earthquakes and flood risk prevention. The ramp-up of these new facilities in Tricastin and Malvési will continue until 2025. The group continues to invest in the modernization of its plants. Substantial investments are planned for the la Hague site to ensure the sustainability and safety of the facilities. In 2023, la Hague carried out the active commissioning and connection of the evaporators to the existing equipment. This is an important milestone in a major site project launched in 2015. In a promising context for the nuclear industry and its activities, Orano is also investing in new capacity. Thus, in 2024, the TN Eagle Factory, a new plant for the manufacture of nuclear transport packaging, was commissioned and the program to extend enrichment capacities at Tricastin was launched. 2024 IN ACTION: Extension of enrichment capacities at Tricastin From 2028, Orano will increase its uranium enrichment capacity by increasing the production capacity of its Georges Besse II plant at the Tricastin site by more than 30%, in order to offer an alternative to enrichment services in Russia. This project includes the identical construction of four additional modules to the fourteen existing ones. They will be equipped with the same ultra centrifuge technology, which is recognized, proven and has a reduced environmental footprint. With modular commissioning, the extension’s full production capacity is scheduled for 2030. After approval by its Board of Directors and the completion of regulatory steps, including the organization of a consultation in 2023 and 2024 under the aegis of the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP) and a public inquiry in the spring of 2024, Orano has launched its project to increase production at the Georges Besse II plant. The total amount of the investment is nearly 1.7 billion euros. The building permit was issued by the Prefect of the Drôme in June 2024, the preparatory work for the site including the erection of the cranes carried out during the summer of 2024, and the civil engineering work began in September 2024. A groundbreaking ceremony was organized at the Orano Tricastin site on October 10, 2024, in the presence of international customers and numerous elected officials and economic players in the region. In addition to the project to extend the Georges Besse II plant and in line with the requests of the US DOE (Department of Energy), Orano plans to increase its capacity with a new ultra-centrifuge enrichment facility in the United States. This project will contribute to the long-term relationship between Orano and its American customers to safely and reliably secure their supplies to provide low-carbon energy. In September 2024, Orano and the State of Tennessee announced that they were entering into exclusive discussions for the location of this plant at the Oak Ridge site belonging to the DOE. Orano Mining invests in production capacity extensions in Canada and Kazakhstan. At the beginning of 2024, Orano’s Board of Directors approved the project to extend the Cigar Lake mine operated by Cameco to extend the mine’s life until 2036. The joint venture between Orano Canada and Denison Mines Corp, McClean Lake Joint-Venture announced in early 2024 the resumption of uranium extraction operations using the innovative SABRE (Surface Access Borehole Resource Extraction) mining method. In Kazakhstan, the start of production of the South Tortkuduk mining site operated by Katco is progressing on schedule with the first metric ton produced in June 2024. Katco teams continue to work for the site to reach its full production capacity of 4,000 metric tons of uranium by 2026. The Project Industrialization Department was created in 2023 to support and control major projects.
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