The new enrichment plant of AREVA, a worthy heir of Georges Besse's industrial visions

The Georges Besse II enrichment plant was inaugurated on December 14., 2010. This plant was the most important investment in France during the last decade, about 3 billion euros. This plant is based on the centrifugation technology instead of the gaseous diffusion that is still in operation in the Georges Besse plant of EURODIF. This plant has been designed in an environment-friendly approach: the centrifugation technology uses 50 times less electricity than gaseous diffusion, does not require taking water from the Rhone river for cooling, does not produce sound nuisances, and the moderate height of the buildings allows a better integration in the environment. The low amount of matter involved in the centrifugation process gives the plant a high level of safety. The plant has a capacity of 7.5 millions UTS with a possible extension to 11 millions UTS. (A.C.)