Orano Signs an Agreement with Japanese Customer for the Reprocessing of Spent Fuel to Advance Bilateral Demonstration Studies on the Reprocessing of Spent MOX Fuel

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

On January 20^th, 2026, Orano signed a major contract with NuRO (Nuclear Reprocessing and Decommissioning facilitation Organization of Japan) for the reprocessing in France of around 200 metric tons of spent fuel from nuclear reactors operated by the Kansai Electric Power Company, located in Japan.

This contract forms part of the Exchange of Notes signed between the French and Japanese governments on March 25, 2026, authorizing and framing for these operations.

The contract covers the reprocessing of spent fuel at the Orano la Hague plant, as well as the conditioning of the final waste that will be sent back to Japan. These operations will contribute to the advancement of bilateral studies on the demonstration of spent MOX fuel reprocessing.

The materials extracted during the course of industrial operations will be recycled into new nuclear fuel to power the Japanese civil nuclear reactors to supply low-carbon energy to the Japanese grid. In France, up to 25% of nuclear-generated electricity comes from recycled materials.

The spent fuel will be conditioned in next-generation transport casks (TN Eagle) for shipment from Japan to France. Manufacturing is already complete with the 12 casks having been assembled at the group's new TN Eagle Factory, located in Cherbourg, France.

Nicolas Maes, Chief Executive Officer of Orano, commented: "The signing of this contract enables Japan and France to pursue their cooperation in reprocessing operations, especially for spent MOX fuel. This new partnership further strengthens the relationship of trust built up over the course of more than half a century with our utility customers in Japan."

Corinne Spilios, Senior Executive Vice President of Orano's Recycling Business Unit, added: " This new contract confirms the relevance of spent fuel reprocessing carried out at Orano la Hague plant, including spent MOX fuel. It represents a responsible and effective solution ahead of the establishment of spent MOX fuel reprocessing technology in Japan. This contract also underscores the excellence and international reach of Orano's la Hague and Melox facilities, and rewards the commitment of the teams mobilized in France and Japan to making this project a success."

About Orano
As a recognized international operator in the field of nuclear materials, Orano delivers solutions to address present and future global energy and health challenges. Its expertise and mastery of cutting-edge technologies enable Orano to offer its customers high value-added products and services throughout the entire fuel cycle. Every day, the Orano group’s 18,500 employees draw on their skills, unwavering dedication to safety and constant quest for innovation, with the commitment to develop know-how in the transformation and control of nuclear materials, for the climate and for a healthy and resource-efficient world, now and tomorrow.
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