France’s energy system relies heavily on nuclear power, typically generating over 60% of the nation’s electricity. Since domestic uranium mining ceased in 2001, the raw material must be imported entirely from global sources. Consistently feeding 56 operational nuclear reactors makes uranium procurement a central pillar of France’s national energy security and geopolitical strategy. Securing the 8,000 to 9,000 tonnes of natural uranium required annually involves complex, long-term international agreements and managing risk in volatile regions.
France’s Primary Global Suppliers
France’s uranium sources are highly concentrated, with a few politically stable nations providing the bulk of the raw material. Kazakhstan is a leading supplier, often accounting for a significant portion of the total volume. France’s nuclear fuel company, Orano, maintains an operational presence there through a joint venture called KATCO, holding a controlling stake alongside the Kazakh state-owned firm, Kazatomprom.
This long-term partnership ensures a consistent flow of uranium from the world’s largest producing nation. Uzbekistan is another significant source, reinforcing the supply stream from Central Asia. Orano is actively developing new mining projects in Uzbekistan to secure future supply lines.
Australia is also a major supplier, contributing substantial volume to France’s total imports. The relationship with Australia is grounded in geopolitical alignment and long-term supply contracts, providing a reliable source from a stable mining jurisdiction. Canada, a longtime partner and major global producer, also contributes to the French supply, where Orano operates mines, underscoring a strategy of vertical integration across multiple continents.
The Evolution of Supply and Strategic Partners
France’s current diversified supply model represents a significant shift from its historical reliance on African nations, particularly those with former colonial ties. For decades, countries like Niger and Gabon were primary suppliers, with French companies securing exclusive mining rights. This historical relationship meant a heavy concentration of supply in the Sahel region, a strategy that carried geopolitical risks.
Diversification became urgent due to resource nationalism and political instability in Africa. The military coup in Niger in 2023, for example, directly impacted French supply security, leading to the halting of Orano’s production operations there. This disruption forced France to accelerate its pivot toward politically robust suppliers and new regions to reduce the risk of over-reliance on volatile areas.
France relies heavily on long-term procurement contracts, often spanning 10 to 20 years, to shield itself from market fluctuations. These contracts lock in supply volumes and prices, providing a buffer against spot market volatility. This approach has led to new strategic partnerships, including an agreement with Mongolia for the exploitation of the Zuuvch-Ovoo uranium mine, expanding Orano’s global footprint and reinforcing supply diversification.
Managing the Nuclear Fuel Chain
The French multinational nuclear fuel company, Orano, manages the entire fuel cycle from mine to reactor, serving as the industrial backbone of the nation’s supply security. Orano handles the specialized domestic processing required to make the uranium usable. Once the yellowcake (U\(_{3}\)O\(_{8}\)) concentrate arrives in France, it enters the conversion phase at facilities like the Malvési site near Narbonne.
During conversion, uranium is chemically transformed into uranium hexafluoride (UF\(_{6}\)), a gaseous compound necessary for enrichment. The UF\(_{6}\) is then moved to the Tricastin site in the Rhône Valley for enrichment. This process increases the concentration of the fissile uranium-235 isotope from 0.7% to the 3-5% required for reactor fuel, occurring at the Georges Besse II centrifuge enrichment plant.
Maintaining this domestic processing capability is a strategic priority, ensuring France’s autonomy over the most complex and sensitive stages of the fuel cycle. The French government recently invested €300 million into Orano to expand the Georges Besse II plant’s capacity by approximately one-third. This expansion aims to capture greater market share and reduce reliance on foreign enrichment services.
Uranium Reserves and Security Strategy
France’s energy security strategy mandates the maintenance of significant physical uranium reserves, a policy designed to safeguard the nuclear fleet against sudden supply shocks. Although the country possesses no economically exploitable domestic reserves, the government ensures that a strategic stockpile of natural uranium is held, typically covering operational needs for up to two years. This large buffer stock provides a substantial time window for policymakers to secure alternative sources during a crisis.
France also holds an enormous reserve of depleted uranium, a byproduct of the enrichment process. This stock amounts to over 320,000 metric tons and is considered a long-term “domestic mining resource.” If re-enriched or used in advanced reactor designs, this material represents an energy reserve equivalent to an additional seven to eight years of consumption for the current nuclear fleet.
This dual-layered security approach—securing physical supply through global long-term contracts and maintaining massive domestic stockpiles—mitigates the risk posed by complete reliance on imports. The nation’s nuclear future is inextricably linked to maintaining a robust, diversified, and globally managed supply chain for the foreseeable future.