Eurodif

Eurodif, which means European Gaseous Diffusion Uranium Enrichment Consortium, is a subsidiary of the French company Orano, which operates a uranium enrichment plant, called the Georges-Besse plant, established at the Tricastin Nuclear Power Center in Pierrelatte in Drôme.

Enriched uranium is the preferred fuel for light water reactors, a common nuclear power technology.

In 1973 France, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Sweden formed the joint stock company EURODIF.

The project announced by Areva NC to make the change was the subject of a public discussion in the Rhône-Alpes region from September 1 to October 22, 2004.

The advantage of the new process is that it is more energy efficient: Georges Besse I used the power generated by all three (2,700 MW) of Tricastin's nuclear reactors for uranium enrichment, whereas the new centrifuge-based Georges Besse II plant can make similar amounts of uranium with only 50 MW.