SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Orano signs contract with Energoatom for uranium enrichment

French group Orano has signed an agreement with Energoatom to provide uranium enrichment services until 2040. This collaboration aims to reduce Ukraine's reliance on Rosatom, the Russian nuclear giant.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90$/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99$/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

Orano, a French company specialising in the nuclear fuel cycle, has formalised a contract with Ukrainian operator Energoatom to provide uranium enrichment services until 2040. The deal, the value of which has not been disclosed, is part of Ukraine’s strategy to diversify its nuclear fuel supply sources.

Commitment to energy independence

Since the start of the conflict with Russia in 2022, Ukraine has been seeking to reduce its dependence on Rosatom, the world’s leading supplier of uranium enrichment services. In this context, Energoatom had already signed a contract with Urenco, a British-German-Dutch consortium, at the end of 2023. With the agreement announced by Orano, Ukraine continues to expand its partnerships to secure a stable and long-term supply for its nuclear power plants.

A significant contract for Orano

While Orano and Energoatom had previously collaborated, the newly signed contract represents a significant step forward in terms of volume and duration. Uranium enrichment is a critical stage in the fuel cycle, enabling the production of the material necessary for the operation of nuclear reactors. Ukraine, which operates four nuclear power plants, relies heavily on this source of energy for its electricity production.

Increased production capacity

In response to the growing demand from European and international electricity companies seeking to diversify their supply sources, Orano is investing in the expansion of its Georges Besse II enrichment plant, located in Tricastin, France. The project, with a budget of €1.7bn, aims to increase the plant’s production capacity by 30%.

Petro Kotin, the interim president of Energoatom, emphasised that this agreement would allow Ukraine to plan for a stable energy future, based on the operation of its nuclear infrastructure.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Sahara Group deploys seven rigs to boost oil output in Nigeria
Iberdrola adds 708 MW of solar capacity to joint venture with Norges Bank
EDF power solutions and El Paso Electric launch 150 MW solar facility in New Mexico
TotalEnergies sells Norwegian oil assets to Vår Energi to reduce debt
Clariant targeted by BP and ExxonMobil in ethylene case
Duke Energy plans new 1,117 MW nuclear reactor by 2037
Duke Energy adds a large nuclear reactor project to its 2025 plan for the Carolinas, anticipating electricity demand more than twice previous forecasts.
Arabelle Solutions secures contract for Sizewell C turbines
EDF has selected Arabelle Solutions to supply two complete turbine islands for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, strengthening their industrial cooperation initiated at Hinkley Point C.
Rome launches legislative process to reintegrate nuclear energy into its mix
The Italian government has approved a bill granting the executive authority to regulate the return of nuclear energy, in line with European carbon neutrality and energy security targets for 2050.
Framatome launches dedicated line for military nuclear propulsion in Jeumont
Framatome and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission have commissioned a specialised industrial line in Jeumont for the manufacturing of nuclear components used in French Navy vessels.
Terra Innovatum signs two strategic agreements to accelerate deployment of its modular reactor
Italian company Terra Innovatum is advancing the commercialisation of its SOLO micro-reactor, with two new partnerships and $42.5mn in funding as part of a merger with a listed company.
Orano, Navoiyuran and ITOCHU launch uranium mining at South Djengeldi site
The Nurlikum Mining joint venture enters a new industrial phase with the launch of the South Djengeldi project, targeting annual production of 500 tonnes of uranium over ten years in Uzbekistan.
Russian strike cuts power to Chernobyl site, reigniting nuclear safety concerns
The containment structure over Chernobyl’s destroyed reactor lost power after a Russian strike, as Zaporizhzhia remains cut off from external electricity for over a week.
U.S. uranium purchases reach 55.9 million pounds in 2024
Uranium deliveries to U.S. civilian operators rose 8% in 2024, while the average price climbed to its highest level since 2012, according to the latest available data.
Medvedev announces the rise of public investment in nuclear and AI
The Vice-Chairman of Russia’s Security Council believes more countries will develop nuclear weapons and generative AI technologies as a result of increasing public sector efforts.
Orano wins legal case in uranium dispute over Somaïr site
An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.
Oklo and Blykalla form transatlantic alliance on modular reactor development
US-based Oklo and Sweden’s Blykalla join forces to coordinate supply chains and regulatory data sharing to accelerate the commercial deployment of their metal-cooled small modular reactors.
EDF to invest €25bn to strengthen nuclear capacity by 2030
EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
EDF nuclear costs kept under control until 2028 according to CRE
The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.
Bulgaria begins talks for the deployment of small modular reactors
The Ministry of Energy will initiate talks with developers of small nuclear reactors after signing a cooperation agreement with the United States to conduct preliminary studies on their deployment.
EDF pushes back Flamanville EPR restart to 17 October
The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.
Natural uranium will be sufficient to fuel nuclear reactors until 2100
The International Atomic Energy Agency says known natural uranium reserves will meet global nuclear power plant demand for the rest of the century, despite price pressures.
Rosatom will finalise field studies for Kazakhstan’s nuclear power plant in 2025
Site selection for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant enters an advanced technical phase, with more than 100 experts mobilised by Rosatom to conduct complex geological and seismic analyses.
ICSID blocks the sale of SOMAÏR uranium by the State of Niger
The ICSID arbitral tribunal ordered Niger to suspend any sale of uranium produced by SOMAÏR, ruling that this material falls under Orano’s contractual rights, amid a dispute with the State that has lasted for several months.
TNC partners with Nucor to strengthen US nuclear supply chain by 2050
US-based TNC has entered into a strategic agreement with Nucor Corporation to expand gigawatt-scale nuclear capacity in line with federal targets of 400 GW by 2050.
Framatome and ENEA join forces to develop lunar nuclear reactors
Framatome and Italian agency ENEA have signed an agreement to design nuclear reactors capable of powering future human settlements on the Moon, amid growing European ambitions in space.