nuclear-news

South Africa gives desperate France a chance to save its nuclear business

“South Africa is an indispensable lifeline,” Yves Marignac, a French energy consultant who campaigns for renewable solutions, told FRANCE 24. “It seems to be the only country seriously willing to put out a tender [for the construction of nuclear reactors] next year, so the only one that can salvage the little credibility that France as an exporter still has.”

France creeps closer to South Africa’s nuclear jackpot, France24 by Sophie PILGRIM 3 March 11, Long-time energy partners France and South Africa signed a series of bilateral agreements Wednesday on President Jacob Zuma’s final day of his state visit to Paris. The deals, which involve energy giants Areva and EDF, come just before South Africa is set to expand its nuclear programme.

French Energy Minister Eric Besson described the accords as placing energy “at the heart of the strategic partnership between France and South Africa,” at the signing ceremony. The details have yet to be outlined, but the message is clear: when it comes to South Africa’s need for nuclear, France has the edge…….

France cannot afford to miss its chance. The country’s energy industry lost out to South Korea over a €15bn contract to build atomic power stations in Abu Dhabi in 2009; has seen its nuclear projects in the US stalled by the financial crisis, and is yet to secure a definite deal for reactors in the UK.

“South Africa is an indispensable lifeline,” Yves Marignac, a French energy consultant who campaigns for renewable solutions, told FRANCE 24. “It seems to be the only country seriously willing to put out a tender [for the construction of nuclear reactors] next year, so the only one that can salvage the little credibility that France as an exporter still has.”

France24 – France creeps closer to South Africa’s nuclear jackpot

March 4, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, marketing