French nuclear supply chain boosting capacity

Orano Projects, a subsidiary of Orano, inaugurated its new building on Friday. The ceremony took place in the presence of state representatives, local elected officials, institutional and economic stakeholders from the region, industrial partners, and employees.

"This event marks a key milestone in a major modernisation programme for the Pierrelatte site, launched in September 2024," Orano said. "This programme includes the construction of a new building, the complete renovation of a second building, and, by 2027, the renovation of a third building, ultimately providing a fully modernised engineering platform. Its capacity has been doubled, increasing from 300 to 600 employees."

Established in Pierrelatte since 1986, Orano's engineering department now benefits from a modernised site. Covering an area of ​​more than 5,600 square metres, it offers a functional working environment, organised into open-plan areas promoting collaboration between teams, quality of working life and fully meeting accessibility requirements.

Orano said the 'Le Gardon' building - named after its location - exemplifies the group's strong local ties. The EUR7 million (USD8.2 million) project, carried out between 2024 and early 2026, was awarded to local companies, contributing to the region's economic vitality.

"Safety was a top priority throughout the entire construction process, which was completed without incident," said Denis Lyonnet, Director of Orano's Southeast Engineering division. "We opted for a sustainable building, incorporating concrete solutions to reduce our environmental footprint: photovoltaic electricity generation panels, eco-mobility solutions, optimised energy consumption management, a permeable parking lot, and a rainwater harvesting system. It was designed by an architect from Pierrelatte and built with local companies. This project, developed collaboratively with our employees, is deeply rooted in its local community and supports a rapidly growing engineering division."

Guillaume Dureau, Director of Engineering, Innovation, R&D and New Business Activities at the Orano Group, added: "I am proud to inaugurate this new building in Pierrelatte today. It brings together teams that are currently working at the heart of the Group's major projects. To meet our challenges and support the growth of our activities, we are aiming for 600 new engineering hires in France by 2026."

The Pierrelatte site is part of a broader real estate investment programme undertaken by Orano to support the significant expansion of its engineering activities, linked to the revitalisation of the nuclear sector. This momentum supports the implementation of strategic projects such as the expansion of the Georges Besse II enrichment plant, the extension of the lifespan of the back-end fuel cycle plants, and their modernisation as part of the 'Future Back-Cycle' programme. This programme entails an unprecedented increase in skills: 500 engineers and technicians will be recruited each year, enabling the group to double its engineering workforce by 2030.

New heat exchanger factory

EDF has announced an investment of nearly EUR100 million by its subsidiary Arabelle Solutions to build a new 20,000-square-metre factory in Chalon-sur-Saône. The factory will manufacture heat exchangers for the future construction programme of six EPR2 reactors - and eight additional potential EPR2 reactors - in France, as well as for new build programmes abroad. This investment will result in the creation of about 160 local jobs by 2030.

The factory will manufacture key equipment designed to optimise heat exchange in the turbine hall of a nuclear power plant, where electricity is generated. This includes moisture separator reheaters, as well as high- and low-pressure heaters. The first equipment manufacturing is scheduled to begin in 2030. Arabelle Solutions in Chalon-sur-Saône will have the production capacity to supply, each year, all this equipment for a nuclear power plant.
 
This project forms part of the investment plan of Arabelle Solutions and builds on the investments announced in January for the site at Belfort, in eastern France. These investments will help ensure the equipment of future EPR2 nuclear power plants through a French production chain. Arabelle Solutions will be able to supply and integrate the full set of equipment for the turbine hall of a nuclear power plant.

"This investment marks a major milestone for the EDF Group and for the revival of nuclear power," said EDF CEO Bernard Fontana. "It strengthens the Group's industrial capabilities for the deployment of six EPR2 reactors and eight additional potential EPR2 reactors in France, as well as new reactors internationally. In Chalon-sur-Saône, Arabelle Solutions is developing key skills and production capacities for essential equipment in the turbine hall. This new factory helps structure an integrated value chain, serving competitive, sovereign and low‑carbon electricity - vital to the energy security of France and Europe."

In February 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the time was right for a nuclear renaissance in France, saying the operation of all existing reactors should be extended without compromising safety and unveiling a proposed programme for six new EPR2 reactors, with an option for a further eight EPR2 reactors to follow. The first three pairs of EPR2 reactors are proposed to be built, in order, at the Penly, Gravelines and Bugey sites. Construction is expected to start in 2027.