Those who enjoy fables are in luck. The nuclear associatives have always proclaimed that nuclear power means independence. Humor. France has just been expelled from Niger, and our impeccable lobby is forced to sell itself to Kazakhstan, at Putin's behest, to obtain its uranium. Putin, the master of the energy game.

French nuclear power in Putin's hands

No uranium, no nuclear power plants. To fuel our 57 reactors, we must import between 8,000 and 9,000 tons of natural uranium each year. France has not produced any since the closure of the last mine, in Limousin, in May 2001.

First, a short physics and chemistry lesson that doesn't make anyone any younger. Uranium. It's the raw material. But it must be transformed in three stages, otherwise our beloved reactors can't digest it. In order: chemical transformation, enrichment, and the manufacture of the final fuel. If we want to show off, we'll say that the initial yellow powder—natural uranium—will become uranium tetrafluoride (UF4), then uranium hexafluoride (UF6).

At this stage, centrifuges are needed, like the Iranians'. This step is crucial, because in 100 kg of natural uranium, there is only 0.7 kg of uranium-235. The rest is uranium-238. However, the nuclear engine only works with uranium containing between 3 and 5% of the 235 variety. Since the latter is a tiny bit lighter than 238, we throw everything into a giant salad bowl, which will allow the 235 isotopes to separate from the others. Easy peasy.

Where does it happen? In Tricastin, in the Drôme department, the happy residents enjoy the 600 hectares of the Georges-Besse II plant, between Drôme and Vaucluse. The funny thing is that it replaces Georges-Besse I, which was launched in 1978 to ensure France's energy independence. Brilliant.

As usual with nuclear power, transparency was total. A major national debate took place between September 1 and October 22, 2004. Eight public meetings, with a total of 810 participants, and a €3 billion investment. The organizer of it all: Areva, whose new name is Orano. Which has just been kicked out of Niger. Did we forget Putin along the way? No! He's coming running.

Exploiting Niger's mines...

https://charliehebdo.fr/2025/07/ecologie/nucleaire/le-nucleaire-francais-dans-la-main-de-poutine/

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