nuclear-news

Anxiety in France about nuclear industry’s future

French nuclear sector re-thinks strategy after UAE setback Sydney Morning Herald December 30, 2009 The French nuclear power sector is to re-focus its strategy, notably in Britain and the United States, after losing out to a South Korean consortium on a $US20.4 billion ($A22.99 billion) project in the United Arab Emirates………..
The French group Areva, the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, had joined forces with French energy heavyweights EDF, GDF-Suez, Total and Vinci to bid for a huge contract — worth E14.11 billion ($A22.87 billion) — to build four nuclear power plants in the United Arab Emirates.

The contract was awarded on Sunday to the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

“The French sector is poorly coordinated and the problem needs to be addressed by the majority shareholder in Areva and EDF, that is, the state, through the voice of the government and if necessary the president of the republic,” said Francois-Michel Gonnot, vice-chairman of the energy studies group in the National Assembly and a member of the ruling UMP party.

President Nicolas Sarkozy early this month charged former EDF head Francois Roussely with the task of carrying out “an in-depth study” of the French civilian nuclear power industry……….

After the setback in the United Arab Emirates, the French sector is looking to Britain, where EDF, which last year acquired British nuclear power company British Energy, is to build four reactors.

The market in the United States is also of interest to France. EDF — Electricite de France — has just taken a 49.9 per cent stake in US group Constellation Energy and will build four of the eight new reactors planned by US authorities…..

In addition Areva has its sights on India, where it put forward an offer in July to build two reactors. The contracts are expected to be signed next year.

December 30, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, France | antinuclear, AREVA, EDF, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes