Uranium mining in France

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Eng. Min. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5245342

White, L

Since the onset of the first ''oil shock'' in 1974, France has pursued a policy of steadily increasing energy independence based on nuclear power for generation of electricity. In 1973, nuclear reactors supplied only 8% of France's electrical power. A strong development effort lifted the nuclear share to 23% in 1980, to 66% in 1985, and the plan is to raise the total to 75% by 1990. In 1976, Cogema (Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires) was organized from the production division of France's Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) to handle fuel supply and spent fuel reprocessing for the expanding industry (see subsequent article on Cogema). In parallel with growth of the French nuclear power, Cogema has become a world leader in all aspects of the fuel cycle, providing services not only domestically but internationally as well. As a uranium mining company, Cogema has steadily developed domestic and foreign sources of supply, and over the years it has maintained the world's strongest uranium exploration effort throughout the ups and downs of the market. As a result, the company has become the world's leading uranium supplier, with about 20% of total production contributed either by its domestic mining divisions or overseas subsidiaries.

• OSTI ID: 5245342
• Journal Information: Eng. Min. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Eng. Min. J.; (United States) Vol. 187:8; ISSN ENMJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050300* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Mining-- (-1987)
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
292000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Supply
Demand & Forecasting
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
COGEMA
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SOURCES
EUROPE
EXPLORATION
FRANCE
FRENCH ORGANIZATIONS
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
MARKET
MATERIALS
MINES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR POWER
PLANNING
POWER
PRODUCTION
REACTOR MATERIALS
REPROCESSING
RESERVES
RESOURCES
REVIEWS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUELS
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
URANIUM MINES
URANIUM RESERVES
WESTERN EUROPE