Orano Strengthens European Energy Sovereignty with Expansion of Georges Besse 2 Uranium Enrichment Facility

Orano Strengthens European Energy Sovereignty with Expansion of Georges Besse 2 Uranium Enrichment Facility

(IN BRIEF) Orano welcomed a European Investment Bank delegation to its Tricastin site in southern France to review progress on the €1.7 billion expansion of the Georges Besse 2 enrichment plant, backed by the EIB’s €400 million financing commitment from March 2025. The expansion, launched in October 2023, will add four new enrichment modules to the existing fourteen, with phased commissioning between 2028 and 2030. The increased capacity will allow the plant to support the equivalent of 120 million households with low-carbon energy and plays a central role in Europe’s RePowerEU strategy to reduce reliance on Russian fuel and reinforce energy sovereignty. Construction involves around 180 primarily French companies, with work progressing on schedule and over 70% of concrete already poured. Leaders from Orano and the EIB emphasised the project’s significance for climate goals, energy security and Western energy independence.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 21-Nov-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Orano today hosted a delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) at its Tricastin industrial site in the Drôme and Vaucluse region of southern France, where visitors were able to assess the substantial progress made on the expansion of the Georges Besse 2 uranium enrichment plant. The visit comes several months after the EIB approved €400 million in financing on 10 March 2025, supporting a major strategic project valued at more than €1.7 billion.

Launched in October 2023, Orano’s expansion of Georges Besse 2 is a cornerstone investment designed to reinforce Western and European energy sovereignty. Fully aligned with the EU’s RePowerEU strategy, the project aims to significantly reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian nuclear fuel and enriched uranium by increasing domestic production capacity.

At the heart of the initiative is the construction of four new enrichment modules, which will be added to the 14 units currently in service. These modules will gradually be brought online between 2028 and 2030, at which point the plant is expected to reach full expanded capacity. Once operational, the enhanced output will enable the supply of low-carbon energy equivalent to the needs of 120 million households annually across Europe.

The EIB delegation’s visit marks an important milestone in the partnership forged earlier in the year, offering an opportunity to observe first-hand the milestones achieved since the laying of the first stone. The project brings together roughly 180 companies, most of them French — with a notable concentration of regional businesses — contributing to construction progress that remains on schedule and within budget. To date, more than 70% of the required concrete has been poured, reflecting a significant step toward completion.

During the visit, senior executives from both organisations underscored the strategic importance of the project:

Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, stated:
“Low-carbon energy sources are essential for Europe’s path to climate neutrality. They also play a critical role in securing our autonomy, especially in today’s uncertain geopolitical landscape. This is why the EIB, as the EU’s bank, is proud to support Orano in increasing its uranium enrichment capacity.”

Nicolas Maes, Chief Executive Officer of Orano, commented:
“The expansion of the Georges Besse 2 plant is a truly strategic endeavour. In time, this additional capacity will enable us to provide power to nearly 60% of EU households. Strengthening production is central to bolstering European and Western energy sovereignty while enhancing security of supply for low-carbon energy across the continent.”

François Lurin, Orano’s Director of Chemistry & Enrichment, added:
“It has been nearly a year since the first brick of this large-scale project was laid. Today’s visit allows us to reflect on the significant progress to date. I want to express my gratitude to our employees, partners, customers and shareholders — their trust and dedication are fundamental to this project’s success. Together, we are advancing toward greater energy independence for the West.”

Background information

About EIB

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, it finances investments that pursue EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

About Orano

As a recognized international operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. Every day, the Orano group’s 18,000 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow.

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SOURCE: European Investment Bank