Orano's centrifuge enrichment plant at Tricastin, rated at 7.5 million SWU a year across 14 modules. A roughly EUR 1.7bn extension adding four identical modules and 2.5 million SWU broke ground in October 2024, had over 70% of its concrete poured by November 2025 and was authorized by government decree in April 2026; first production is planned for 2028 and full commissioning for 2030.
New to HALEU and enrichment? HALEU, explained: the fuel advanced reactors need · The U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain, explained
Current state
| Status | Expanding |
| Country | France |
| Location | Tricastin site, Drome/Vaucluse |
| Operator | Orano |
| Ownership | Orano is majority owned by the French state. |
| Facility type | Enrichment plant |
| Technology | Gas centrifuge |
| Products | LEU |
| Capacity (tSWU/yr) | 7,500 |
| Target capacity (tSWU/yr) | 10,000 |
| Target year | 2030 |
| License | Building permit granted June 2024; government decree authorizing the capacity increase published 30 Apr 2026; first UF6 introduction into the extension requires prior approval of the French nuclear safety regulator (ASNR). |
| Government support | European Investment Bank financing of EUR 400m for the extension (reported by NEI Magazine). |
Notes
Cost ~EUR 1.7bn. New modules to come online progressively from 2028, full commissioning 2030. Orano also says it is prepared to supply enrichment above 6% by 2030 given firm customer commitments (Orano HALEU page, search snippet).
Timeline
- 2023-10 — Orano's board approved an investment of nearly EUR 1.7bn to extend Georges Besse II by four modules. (source)
- 2024-06 — The building permit for the extension was granted. (source)
- 2024-10 — Orano held the groundbreaking ceremony for the extension after work began in late summer 2024. (source)
- 2025-03-10 — The European Investment Bank granted a EUR 400m loan for the extension. (source)
- 2025-11-20 — Orano hosted an EIB delegation at Tricastin, reporting over 70% of the extension's concrete poured and the project on schedule and within budget. (source)
- 2026-04-30 — The French government published the decree authorizing the increase of Georges Besse II capacity from 7.5 to 10 million SWU. (source)
The timeline is append-only: corrections are added as new entries. Stated targets appear in the current-state table, never as milestones.
NNN coverage
About Orano
- NRC opens hearing window for Orano’s Project Ike 2026-08-20
- NNSA funding for BWXT's DUECE enrichment pilot plant hits $266.7M 2026-10-11
- General Matter walks NRC through Paducah enrichment license filing 2026-10-11
- The U.S. nuclear fuel supply chain, explained 2026-09-29
- HALEU, explained: the fuel advanced reactors need 2026-08-27
- DOE nuclear funding, explained: every program paying for the buildout 2026-08-05
Related facilities
- Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Combine (AECC) Operating · Russia
- BWXT DUECE Pilot Plant (Erwin) Planned · United States
- CNEA Pilcaniyeu enrichment plant Shut down · Argentina
- CNNC Emeishan uranium enrichment plant (Plant 814) Expanding · China
- CNNC Hanzhong uranium enrichment plant (Plant 405) Expanding · China
- CNNC Lanzhou uranium enrichment plant (Plant 504) Expanding · China
- Electrochemical Plant (ECP), Zelenogorsk Operating · Russia
- Global Laser Enrichment Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF) Licensing · United States
See all 29 facilities in the Uranium Enrichment & HALEU Tracker →
Sources
- Annual Activity Report 2025 - Georges Besse II extension — Orano (primary), checked 2026-10-11
- Progress on Georges Besse 2 plant extension project — Orano (primary), checked 2026-10-11
- Georges Besse II: extension decree marks halfway point in the project — SFEN, checked 2026-10-11
- EIB reviews Orano's enrichment expansion — Nuclear Engineering International, checked 2026-10-11
- Uranium Enrichment (updated 29 Sep 2026) — World Nuclear Association, checked 2026-10-11
- Plans to expand the enrichment capacity — International Panel on Fissile Materials, checked 2026-10-11