nuclear-news

During her 12-year tenure, former Chief Executive Anne Lauvergeon bet on a nuclear renaissance and loaded up the company with debt and expanded its operations. But despite the sales pitch, the nuclear renaissance never quite happened.

At Areva, New CEO Confronts a Delicate Job, WSJ, By MAX COLCHESTER And GERALDINE AMIEL, 30 Sept 11 PARIS—Areva SA’s new chief executive faces the delicate task of steering the global nuclear-engineering giant through a widespread industry slowdown.

Areva has also come under criticism for cost-overruns of its third-generation reactor after project delays in Finland. A similar project in France also has faced delays. The company is now working with EDF to improve the reactor’s design, Mr. Oursel said.

But for all of Mr. Oursel’s efforts, analysts say Areva’s fate is only partially in his own hands.

“Mr. Oursel faces two challenges: the global outlook for nuclear and internal politics” in the French nuclear industry, says Alex Barnett, an industry analyst at Jefferies International. “He can do something about the latter but is helpless about the former,” Mr. Barnett adds….