SEPA (Service d'etudes, de Procedes et Analyses)

The SEPA (Service d'etudes, de Procedes et Analyses), is an engineering department specializing in the analysis and processing of uranium ore. It comes from a long tradition of mining in France that began sixty-five years ago with the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and that has been carried on by COGEMA and then Areva. SEPA brings a combination of experience and excellence to its activities thanks to its multidisciplinary staff (mineralogists, chemists, mechanical engineers, instrumentation specialists...), who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. Today, the SEPA draws on its wealth of know-how and expertise to devise and develop new methods for processing and valorizing ores everywhere in the world. Its mission is to: - Develop and conduct laboratory tests on methods for processing uranium and other valuable elements such as molybdenum, vanadium, rare earths, niobium, tantalum and thorium; - Analyze ores obtained during prospecting at locations all over the world; -Serve as an advisor in the commissioning of Areva industrial units and ore processing plants; -Perform environmental analyses during the full period of mining operations; -Conduct audits and provide advice on processes and analysis methods; -Carry out research and development in all aspects of minerals treatment (including the filing of patents). The SEPA combines experience, skills and a global approach to technologies used in ore processing. Its role is to continually improve the processes for extracting, processing and valorizing ores while protecting the environment