Orano's new stable isotopes laboratory: a first in France

Orano group has just celebrated completion of construction of the stable isotopes laboratory on the Orano Tricastin site (Drôme), in the presence of Philippe Knoche, Chief Executive Officer of Orano, Jean-Bernard Levy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EDF, François Jacq, Chairman of the CEA, as well as local elected representatives.

It is the only laboratory of its kind in France. Wishing to reinforce its know-how and make optimum use of its cutting-edge technologies, Orano is developing a new activity on the Tricastin site: the production of stable isotopes, in other words of non-radioactive elements, thanks to the technological expertise and know-how of the teams on the site.

The new facility with a surface area of 3,200 square meters, represents an investment of nearly 15 million euros and will employ around twenty highly-qualified members of personnel. Production operations are expected to commence in the 2^nd half of 2023.

Stable isotopes, which are non-radioactive forms of atoms, are used for many applications and demand for them is continuing to grow. Though they do not emit radiation, due their properties, they are used in particular in the medical sector (cancer diagnosis and treatment), in the industrial sector (increased laser performance) and in basic research (quantum information science).

Philippe Knoche, Chief Executive Officer of Orano, declared: "This new high-tech activity is the first of its kind in France. With the production of stable isotopes, we are innovating and exploring new fields of application for our technologies outside of the nuclear sector. At a time when growing emphasis is being placed on issues of national sovereignty, we are making our contribution with this new industrial investment in France."