Framatome zirconium-hafnium, Jarrie, Isère

Hafnium exists only as a by-product of the purification of nuclear zirconium (≈1 t of Hf per 50 t of Zr): France, via Framatome at Jarrie, provides ≈49% of world supply, ahead of the United States. Prices jumped to ≈$6,950/kg in 2023 under demand from aerospace superalloys. Zircaloy fuel cladding and control rods depend on this narrow Franco-American chain.