12.03.2025
Orano and ECIA: a key engineering partnership to modernize nuclear infrastructures
Orano and ECIA have strengthened their long-standing partnership with Orano, particularly at the La Hague site, to modernize nuclear infrastructures as part of the drive to improve the performance of its plants and extend their lifespan, as well as "Back End of the Future". This key engineering partnership aims to design innovative, high-performance and sustainable facilities, ensuring France's energy sovereignty.
A strategic response to national challenges
s part of its national low-carbon strategy, France is committed to renewing its nuclear infrastructures to meet the challenges of climate, energy and sovereignty. The "Perennité-Resilience" and "Aval du Futur" programs, led by Orano, aim in particular to modernize MOX* fuel processing, recycling and fabrication facilities.
The Downstream of the Future program includes :
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Renewal of the processing plant at La Hague (50)
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Creation of an underwater unloading and storage facility to meet national and international needs.
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The creation of spent fuel processing workshops with a capacity equivalent to the existing one, i.e. 1,200 tonnes per year.
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Processing of different types of spent fuel, including recycled fuel, to prepare for the future of the nuclear cycle.
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A new workshop to manufacture MOX* fuel.
*MOX fuel consists of approximately 8.5% plutonium and 91.5% depleted uranium. The term "MOX" stands for "mixed oxide", as MOX fuel contains both plutonium dioxide (PuO2) and depleted uranium dioxide (UO2).
ECIA, a long-standing partner
To support these major transformations, Orano is strengthening its partnership with ECIA, the nuclear engineering company, an Equans France entity. ECIA has been working with Orano for over 17 years on its emblematic industrial sites, such as La Hague, Melox, Tricastin and Malvési.
ECIA's expertise in electrical engineering, instrumentation and control, HVAC engineering and nuclear ventilation will be decisive in the key areas of safety, containment and physical protection.
An unprecedented technological challenge for ECIA
The partnership signed represents an unprecedented challenge for Yannick Aparicio, Director of Equans Solutions Engineering and President of ECIA, underlines this ambition:
"This new stage illustrates the continuity of a demanding cooperation around an unprecedented challenge: designing 4.0 facilities, incorporating the most advanced technologies and designed to last for almost a century."
A partnership focused on the future of energy
In addition to the design of new infrastructures, ECIA is also involved in the program to ensure the continuity and resilience of the existing La Hague and Melox plants.
This partnership illustrates ECIA's commitment to ensuring France's energy sovereignty, while driving a sustainable and responsible energy transition.
