Uranium mining in Niger

The Front End division represented 26% of the AREVA group’s sales revenue in 2007. It combines all of the fuel cycle operations that take place before nuclear power is generated. It consists of four business units: the Mining Business Unit, the Chemistry Business Unit, the Enrichment Business Unit, and the Fuel Business Unit.  Learn more about the Front-End division

Position

AREVA ranked first worldwide in the front end of the nuclear cycle. It is the only group in the world to operate in every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle, which undeniably gives it a competitive edge.

In Mining, AREVA is the world's third largest producer of uranium (see section 4.4.1.4.). Its market share, including trading activities, was approximately 24% in 2007, or close to 13,500 metric tons sold. The group has an excellent diversified mining portfolio with operations in Canada, Niger and Kazakhstan and projects under development in Africa and Canada. The acquisition in August 2007 of Uramin, which has deposits in Africa that can be brought into production quickly, strengthens the portfolio even further. 

In Chemistry, AREVA is the world's leading supplier of conversion services, with an estimated world market share of around 26%. AREVA has two main sites for uranium conversion operations: Malvési, where ore concentrates are purified, and Pierrelatte, which produces UF6. The group has launched a program to replace these facilities. 

In Enrichment, AREVA is one of the world leaders in enrichment services, with approximately 24% of the world's available capacity. AREVA has one production site, the Georges Besse plant at Pierrelatte. A new plant using centrifuge technology, the Georges Besse II plant, is under construction at the site and will assure continued growth and world leadership on this market. 

In Fuel, AREVA ranks first worldwide. It supplies close to 40% of the western world's fuel requirements for pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs), and the same percentage for the world's research reactors. The group's industrial operations are diversified at locations in Europe (Germany, France and Belgium) and in the United States.

2007 Financial data

Sales breakdown by region




Sales revenue breakdown by business unit

Front-End in €M	2007	2006	2005
Sales revenue	3,140	2,919	2,631
Operating income	496	456	374
EBITDA	731	630	508
Net operating CAPEX	(2,260)	(750)	(236)
Change in operating working capital requirementl	(140)	(28)	(77)
Free operating cash flow	(1,673)	(186)	197
Capital employed	5,135	2,464	1,761
Workforce	12,577	11,995	11,047

Learn more

Presentations

11/12/2007: Eurodif (Pierrelatte) and FBFC (Romans) plants: presentation of the strategic and economic stakes of the Front-End division  AREVA Technical Days 4 - Operations of the Front End Division - December 2003

Brochures

The Nuclear Energy Cycle - 2003

Useful links: find out more…

www.uranium.info: uranium spot price, conversion and enrichment services. Reports on the nuclear energy cycle.
www.uxc.com: The UX Consulting company’s website publishes spot and long-term prices in the front end business, as well as reports on the uranium market outlook.
www.uic.com.au: The Uranium Information Center aims to improve public information on the uranium mining industry and on nuclear power generation in Australia.