nuclear-news

France reviewing its nuclear deal with China

France says review of China nuclear relations “normal” Jan 21, 2013 By Lucy Hornby BEIJING (Reuters) – France’s Trade Minister Nicole Bricq said on Monday a decision by her country’s new government to review the country’s nuclear cooperation with China was a regular process and was “normal”.

At the end of December, Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said France was investigating a nuclear partnership deal between EDF and Chinese nuclear utility China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation Holding (CGNPC).

That investigation is looking into why the deal initially excluded French nuclear reactor maker Areva and at the extent to which French strategic interests could be at risk…… On Tuesday, Bricq will visit two next-generation EPR reactors being built by French utility EDF and by CGNPC in Taishan, Guangdong province.

The EPR reactors, designed by Areva, are the latest in commercial reactor design and none is in operation so far.

Areva is building one in Finland and EDF one in France but both are years behind schedule and billions over budget. France’s nuclear export drive has been hurt by the lack of a working model.

“It is best to have a working reactor as we pursue other potential contracts,” Bricq said.

Bricq played down concerns about Chinese irritation over the French investigation, as Moscovici did during his visit to Beijing two weeks ago…. Asked about an EDF-CGNPC project to build a new type of 1000 megawatt reactor for the Chinese market, smaller than Areva’s 1600 megawatt EPR, Bricq said that it was important to first complete the two Taishan plants.

“We can’t go too fast…The first priority is to finish this project,” she said. … http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCABRE90K0QN20130121?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

January 23, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general