Areva

Areva S.A. was a French multinational corporation active in the nuclear power sector. Created in 2001 by the merger of COGEMA, Framatome, and Technicatome, it combined France’s nuclear fuel cycle activities with reactor technology and engineering capabilities. Headquartered in Paris, the group operated globally and spanned the nuclear value chain.

Its activities included uranium mining and conversion, uranium enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel reprocessing, waste management, and related engineering and services for nuclear power plants, as well as research and development. The company also managed reactor-related projects through its Areva NP division.

Financial and strategic pressures in the 2010s led to a restructuring. Beginning in 2016, Areva was split into two core businesses: Orano, handling the fuel cycle and related activities, and Areva NP, the reactor division. In 2017–2018, the Areva NP business was sold to EDF and subsequently renamed Framatome. In 2018, the remaining Areva S.A. rebranded as Orano, and the Areva name ceased to be used for the core businesses.

Legacy and successors. Today, Orano continues the former Areva fuel-cycle activities, while Framatome operates reactor technology and services. The restructuring separated mining, conversion, and recycling activities from the reactor vendor and service operations, aligning with broader changes in the European nuclear industry.