Uranium production in France

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry

OSTI ID:104837

France was one of the first nations to assume a leadership role in the development of nuclear power generation. The French Commission for Atomic Energy (Commissariat a l`Energie Atomique - CEA) was formed on October 18, 1945 to establish and regulate national nuclear policy, and the French program developed rapidly to include the complete nuclear fuel cycle. The CEA has since maintained an aggressive and uninterrupted program, leading the country to the forefront of nuclear technology. That the program has been a success is demonstrated by the fact that nuclear reactors currently generate over 70 percent of the electrical power in France, up from about 10 percent in 1973. There are 53 nuclear power plants now operating in France, with a combined gross power capacity of approximately 52,000 MWe. France is fortunate to have significant uranium resources, which it has vigorously exploited. However, even those resources have proved insufficient to support France`s growing nuclear program, and a combination of overseas uranium purchase contracts and equity investments in uranium production operations now supply the majority of France`s uranium requirements. In fact, France has contractual or equity relationships with organizations in every major uranium-producing country, and is in the forefront of exploration activity both in established areas and in areas of new exploration. Virtually all uranium production in France now is handled by semi or fully government-owned companies, including Cogema.

• OSTI ID: 104837
• Journal Information: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry, Journal Name: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry Journal Issue: 236; ISSN 0742-4582; ISSN NUEXD3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
EXPLORATION
FRANCE
PRODUCTION
URANIUM
URANIUM MINES
URANIUM OXIDES U3O8
URANIUM RESERVES