nuclear-news

Low demand for uranium: AREVA limits production

Areva suspends some uranium production after Japan quake Google News, 16 Sept 11, PARIS — French nuclear giant Areva is suspending uranium production at two plants because of low demand from Japanese power stations in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Production at subsidiary Comhurex’s Malvesi and Tricastin sites will be suspended for two months because of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and swamped a nuclear site six months ago, the spokeswoman said.

“This decision is based on the events in Japan, which today has led to a drop in deliveries to Japanese power producers and short term downward pressure on prices in this market,” Areva said in a statement.

“A certain number of orders placed by the Japanese have been cancelled,” Areva chief executive Luc Oursel told AFP from New York….

Areva is majority state-owned and Paris has long considered nuclear power a strategic asset, despite power shortages last winter caused by labour disputes and delayed refuelling in some power stations.

On Monday, an explosion at nuclear waste reprocessing site in southern France killed one worker and injured four more, but regulators said there was no danger of a radiation leak and the area was declared safe within hours….

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hTantVmc6yOJpsBcK95VrMC3VuQA?docId=CNG.845572e84348f2e5c01e7818573012ea.1251

September 16, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, France, Uranium