Deconstruction of the Tricastin towers: a new chapter begins
For almost three decades, their imposing silhouettes dominated the Rhône landscape. In April 2025, Orano Tricastin's two cooling towers will be painstakingly dismantled, marking the end of an era for the Georges Besse plant, which has been shut down since 2012. This gigantic project symbolizes the transformation of a historic industrial site towards a future resolutely focused on innovation and performance.
The iconic towers, symbols of a rich industrial history
Erected in the early 1970s opposite the Tricastin nuclear power plant, the two towers, 123 meters high and 90 meters in diameter at their base, cooled the Georges Besse uranium enrichment plant for 33 years. This plant, operated by Eurodif Production, has powered over 100 nuclear reactors worldwide, contributing to the recognition of the Group's expertise and the development of low-carbon electricity. Visible from dozens of kilometers away, have become a symbol of the Tricastin site.
A benchmark technology platform
The shutdown of the Georges Besse plant in 2012 marked a turning point. A new plant, Georges Besse 2, has taken over, using the more competitive and energy-efficient centrifuge enrichment technology. This technological change illustrates Orano's ability
to renew itself and remain at the forefront of the nuclear industry. Today, the Tricastin site is a benchmark industrial platform, drawing on nearly 60 years of know-how, and encompassing all uranium chemistry and enrichment activities. It represents
a unique center of expertise in the world, mastering the upstream stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.
"With an efficiency rate of over 99% measured at the Georges Besse 2 enrichment plant in 2024, the centrifugation process demonstrates exceptional productivity for the industry," explains François Lurin, Director of the Chemistry and Enrichment
Business Unit at Orano.
A controlled dismantling operation
The deconstruction of the towers, which begins in April 2025 and will last 18 months, is a key stage in the dismantling of the former enrichment plant. For reasons of safety and proximity to the adjacent power plant, the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) has validated that the towers will be dismantled using a technique known as “nibbling”, which involves gradually deconstructing the towers from top to bottom using specialized equipment mounted inside the structures.
"This project symbolizes the excellence of our teams in nuclear dismantling. Their expertise, rigor and commitment make it possible to meet this extraordinary industrial challenge, in compliance with the highest safety standards. They embody Orano's ability to transform the legacy of the past into opportunities for the future." Jean-Christophe Patout, SEVP of Orano’s Dismantling and Services BU.
An ambitious deconstruction project
This gigantic project of the dismantling Eurodif's plant, costing a total of 1.2 billion euros, will last until 2051. The space freed up by the disappearance of the towers will allow industrial expansion of the site.
Diversification and innovation: Tricastin is preparing for the future
Orano Tricastin is not content to simply dismantle its past facilities; the site is developing through, new activities, notably the production of non-nuclear stable isotopes (the LIS Jean Fourniols laboratory), opening up prospects in the fields of healthcare, research and industry.
A major player in the local and national economy
Enriched uranium produced on the site supplies 90 million homes a year with low-carbon energy, contributing to France's energy independence. With almost 2,500 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs, Orano Tricastin remains a major player in the local economy, rooted in its history and resolutely focused on innovation.