EDF launches its nuclear Technocentre in Fessenheim, estimated investment of €450 million

EDF confirms the continuation of its industrial project in Fessenheim for recycling very low-level radioactive metals, a first in France requiring specific regulatory authorizations, following a public debate concluded last February.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

EDF (Électricité de France) has officially announced the continuation of its industrial project named Technocentre, aimed at recycling very low-level radioactive metals resulting from nuclear decommissioning. The French energy company intends to enhance value from a portion of metallic waste generated by national nuclear installations, converting it into recycled metal ingots. The estimated cost of this industrial project is €450 million. At present, no official date has been announced for the start of industrial operations, with the next steps primarily administrative and regulatory.

A Project Born from National Public Debate

The Technocentre project was subjected to public debate under the supervision of the National Commission for Public Debate (Commission nationale du débat public – CNDP) between October 10, 2024, and February 7, 2025. EDF stated that the majority of the contributions received during the debate were favorable to the project. However, the CNDP also noted significant concerns from some participants regarding uncertainties about potential health risks associated with regular contact with these recycled metals. Nonetheless, the company has no legal obligation to explicitly incorporate recommendations issued by the CNDP into its final decision.

Upcoming Regulatory Steps

Before final authorization, effective implementation of the Technocentre requires two major administrative steps. First, EDF must obtain a specific exemption from the Public Health Code (Code de la santé publique) through a ministerial decree, authorizing the industrial use of very low-level radioactive metals. Additionally, a prefectural decree will also be required following a public inquiry scheduled for the 2025-2026 period. This regulatory procedure is essential to validate the project’s compliance with current French health and environmental legislation.

A Practice Already Established in Europe

While the Technocentre represents a major innovation in France, other European countries already possess similar facilities. This is particularly the case in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Switzerland, where similar industrial processes for recycling slightly radioactive contaminated metals are in place. EDF’s project thus aims to bridge the relative gap faced by the French nuclear industry in industrial valorization of metals from decommissioning operations.

Ontario Power Generation secures CAD3bn ($2.1bn) in public equity financing to construct four modular reactors at Darlington, aiming to ease private sector entry into next-generation nuclear infrastructure.
French developer Newcleo launches a joint venture with Nextchem through a EUR70 mn contract to design the conventional island of its upcoming 200 MW modular nuclear reactors.
NANO Nuclear strengthens its North American strategy by acquiring Global First Power in Canada, securing regulatory rights for its KRONOS MMR™ project at Chalk River.
South Korea becomes the first country to submit a safeguards technical report to the IAEA for a small modular reactor, setting a precedent for early integration of non-proliferation requirements in nuclear design.
The Environmental Authority criticises the lack of key data on health risks, chemical discharges and construction safety for EDF's two upcoming EPR2 reactors in Seine-Maritime.
Brazil and China have concluded a three-year agreement to secure access to essential radioisotopes for the medical, industrial and scientific sectors, with no financial exchange between the parties.
US-based developer Last Energy will deploy its first domestic microreactor at Texas A&M-RELLIS, marking a strategic step in the advanced modular reactor race.
Amazon unveils new visuals of its upcoming nuclear site, marking a key step in its partnership with X-energy to deploy up to 960 MW of modular nuclear capacity in Washington state.
Canadian uranium producer NexGen Energy has completed a A$1bn ($639mn) equity raise split between North American and Australian markets to support the development of its Rook I project.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings is examining the permanent closure of units 1 and 2 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the oldest at the site, while continuing efforts to restart unit 6.
The formal expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran comes as international sanctions have already been reinstated and diplomatic negotiations remain stalled.
Oklo, newcleo and Blykalla partner to develop advanced nuclear fuel infrastructure in the United States, backed by a planned $2bn investment.
enCore Energy has identified three new uranium roll fronts at its Alta Mesa project, with ongoing drilling aimed at defining their extent and accelerating development work.
California-based Radiant will build its first microreactor production facility in Oak Ridge, on a former Manhattan Project site, with production targeted at 50 units per year by 2028.
EDF restarted the Flamanville EPR reactor after repairing non-compliant valves, delaying the target of reaching full power output of 1,620 MW until the end of autumn.
Nano Nuclear and the University of Illinois will begin drilling operations for the KRONOS MMR™ reactor on October 24, marking a key step toward commercialisation of the nuclear project on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Natura Resources is finalising construction of the MSR-1, an advanced liquid-fuel nuclear reactor, with a planned launch in 2026 on the Abilene Christian University campus.
JPMorganChase commits $10bn in direct investments as part of a $1.5tn plan to boost energy independence and strategic technologies, including next-generation nuclear power.
A roadmap under development aims to establish regulatory and technical foundations for the deployment of small modular reactors, with the goal of strengthening national energy security and attracting private capital.
EDF adjusts its 2025 nuclear production forecast to between 365 and 375 TWh, supported by the performance of its industrial programme START 2025 focused on maintenance efficiency.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.