March 12, 2025
Orano and ECIA: A Key Engineering Partnership to Modernize Nuclear Infrastructure
Orano and ECIA are strengthening their long-standing partnership, particularly at the La Hague site, to modernize nuclear infrastructure as part of efforts to improve plant performance, extend their operational life, and advance the “Downstream of the Future ” initiative. This key engineering partnership aims to design innovative, high-performance, and sustainable facilities that ensure France’s energy sovereignty.
A Strategic Response to National Challenges
As part of its national low-carbon strategy, France is committed to modernizing its nuclear infrastructure to address climate, energy, and sovereignty challenges. The sustainability and resilience programs and the “Aval du Futur” project, led by Orano, aim in particular to modernize facilities for the processing, recycling, and fabrication of MOX* fuel.
The "Aval of the Future" program includes:
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The modernization of the La Hague reprocessing plant (50)
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The creation of an underwater unloading and storage facility to meet national and international needs.
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The creation of spent fuel processing facilities with a capacity equivalent to the existing one, namely 1,200 metric tons per year.
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The processing of various types of spent fuel, including recycled fuel, to prepare for the future of the nuclear fuel cycle.
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A new workshop to manufacture MOX* fuel.
*MOX fuel (or MOX) consists of approximately 8.5% plutonium and 91.5% depleted uranium. The term “MOX” is an acronym for “mixed oxide” because MOX fuel more precisely contains plutonium dioxide (PuO2) and depleted uranium dioxide (UO₂).
ECIA, a long-standing partner committed to the cause
To support these major transformations, Orano is strengthening its partnership with ECIA, the nuclear engineering firm and a subsidiary of Equans France. ECIA has been collaborating with Orano for over 17 years at its flagship industrial sites, such as La Hague, Melox, Tricastin, and Malvési.
ECIA’s expertise in electrical engineering, control systems, HVAC, and nuclear ventilation will be crucial for key areas such as safety, containment, and physical protection.
An Unprecedented Technological Challenge for ECIA
The partnership agreement represents an unprecedented challenge for Yannick Aparicio, Director of Equans Solutions Engineering and President of ECIA, who emphasizes this ambition:
“ This new phase illustrates the continuity of a demanding collaboration centered on an unprecedented challenge: designing Industry 4.0 facilities that incorporate the most advanced technologies and are built to last nearly a century. ”
A Collaboration Focused on the Future of Energy
In addition to designing new infrastructure, ECIA is also committed to the program to ensure the longevity and resilience of the existing plants at La Hague and Melox, thereby guaranteeing the continuity of operations.
This partnership illustrates the commitment to ensuring France’s energy sovereignty while driving a sustainable and responsible energy transition.
