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France touting for nuclear business in Czech Republic

French PM Lobbied Czech Counterpart On Nuclear Cooperation – WSJ.com, 10 Feb 2011, PARIS (Dow Jones)–-French Prime Minister Francois Fillon on Thursday emphasized to his Czech counterpart French companies’ interest in a plan to build new nuclear reactors in the country.”Franco-Czech cooperation in the area of nuclear energy was discussed,” and Fillon “underscored the interest of French companies for the plan to build new reactors at the Temelin site” in the Czech Republic, his office said, following a bilateral meeting between the two European Union countries.The French nuclear sector includes utility Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR) and nuclear engineering group Areva SA (CEI.FR),both of which are state-controlled……French PM Lobbied Czech Counterpart On Nuclear Cooperation – WSJ.com

February 11, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, EUROPE, France | Leave a comment

France’s AREVA has dangerous plan for undersea nuclear plant at Cherbourg

ecological associations have wasted no time in highlighting the dangers. According to Greenpeace, nothing has been finalised on a technical level or in terms of safety.

Underwater nuclear plant on the Basque coast? – EiTB News World, Frederik Verbeke – 01/25/2011, French naval defence specialists are planning to build a number of small underwater nuclear power plants. Continue reading →

January 26, 2011 Posted by | France, safety, technology | 1 Comment

France’s farmers turn to renewable energy for economic reasons

Solar, wind and biomass energy are taking off in France in the wake of national and European energy targets. Farmers see them as a potential source of steady income amid erratic commodity prices, a way of cutting costs

Analysis: French farmers turning to renewable energy Jan 21, 2011 ESTIGNEY, France (Reuters) – An increasing number of farmers will try to claim a share of France’s renewable energy sector to help cope with farm price volatility and counter environmental criticism that has tarnished their rural image. Continue reading →

January 22, 2011 Posted by | France, renewable | Leave a comment

Nuclear reactors under the sea planned by France

France’s DCNS Plans Underwater Nuclear Plant, Echos Says,  Bloomberg, By Gregory Viscusi – Jan 20, 2011 France’s DCNS will study the possibility of building underwater nuclear power plants as part of the naval contractor’s planned diversification, Les Echos reported, citing the group’s Chief Executive Officer Patrick Boissier.The 100-meter-long (328 feet) reactor would be sunk at about 100 meters and could supply via cable a town or island of between 100,000 and 1 million people, said Boissier. DCNS builds atomic powered submarines for the French navy.

DCNS is 25 percent owned by military technology company Thales SA. France’s DCNS Plans Underwater Nuclear Plant, Echos Says – Bloomberg

January 21, 2011 Posted by | France, technology | Leave a comment

France trying to sort out its nuclear energy business mess

Energy Minister Eric Besson  said the government would unveil a new framework for investments in the solar power sector by mid-February

France to decide on nuclear industry shake-up in Q1 Reuters, 14 Jan 2011, Government to hold nuclear policy council in next weeks* EDF, Areva partnership options to be reviewed* Areva against EDF leadership, says would hinder its sales* Committee reviewing candidates for Areva’s helm – minister By Marie MaitrePARIS, – France will hold a nuclear policy council in coming weeks to decide on the reorganisation of its nuclear industry Continue reading →

January 14, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, France | Leave a comment

France leaves radioactive legacy in uranium mine tailings

When the mines are shut down, the radioactive waste remains, and it seems that the costs for managing this radioactive legacy will have to be largely supported by the society, not the companies.

Radiological hazards from uranium mining: Problems posed by the disposal of tailings, League of Individuals for the Environment, Inc, Bruno Chareyron, 5 Jan 2011, The disposal of radioactive tailings and their control on the long term, has not receivedyet satisfying solutions, taking into consideration their activity, radiotoxicityand long half-lives. Some examples from France (where about 50 million tonsof tailings are stored) and Niger are given below. Continue reading →

January 12, 2011 Posted by | France, Uranium, wastes | Leave a comment

Mon Dieu, Electricite de France is supposed to pay for nuclear waste storage

Under French law, EDF has to build a portfolio of assets to enable it to pay for the decommissioning of France’s 58 nuclear reactors and radioactive waste storage…EDF was supposed to have set aside enough money by the end of June 2011 for decommissioning of all of its nuclear assets and waste storage. A planned power law gave the utility a five- year extension on the deadline to June 2016.

EDF Puts 50% of RTE Grid Operator into Dedicated Fund for Nuclear Charges – Bloomberg, By Tara Patel – Jan 3, 2011 Electricite de France said it will improve its debt ratio with the transfer of half the French power grid Reseau de Transport d’Electricite into a fund that will cover costs for dismantling nuclear reactors……… Continue reading →

January 4, 2011 Posted by | France, wastes | Leave a comment

Dim outlook in USA for French nuclear company EDF

EDF faces an uphill struggle………. the longer the EDF process draws out, the more it is likely to be tied up by political and economic constraints, beyond the overarching debate about the future of US nuclear energy….

EDF’s role in US nuclear market is clouded, Google hosted news, By Marc Jourdier (AFP) –30 Dec 10, WASHINGTON — Time may be running out for French energy giant EDF to gain a stronger foothold in the US nuclear sector, Continue reading →

December 30, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, France | Leave a comment

Nuclear energy industrial espionage

French police suspect industrial espionage after computers stolen from nuclear power company – Winnipeg Free Press, 24 Dec 10, PARIS – French police say thieves have stolen two computers containing confidential information from a power company’s nuclear energy research site.Police say Thursday the burglary — which was discovered by staff on Monday — took place at the Electricite de France office in Chatou west of Paris, even though it is protected by highly secure anti-theft systems. They suspect industrial espionage may be involved……French police suspect industrial espionage after computers stolen from nuclear power company – Winnipeg Free Press

December 24, 2010 Posted by | France, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Problems in AREVA nuclear company’s plans to ‘conquer the world’

a three-year delay and the doubling of the costs for the construction of the first EPR the group had to build in Finland,….Areva must be “in conquest mode” internationally……..

Areva Needs Clarity From France Over Nuclear Strategy – WSJ, by Geraldine Amiel 22 Dec 10, French state-controlled nuclear engineering firm Areva’s impending capital increase can’t hide the fact that the government’s strategy regarding what it considers one of its energy industry’s jewels is still confused… Continue reading →

December 22, 2010 Posted by | France, politics | Leave a comment

France’s questionable record on nuclear reliability and safety

In August 2008, Sortir du nucléaire described Areva’s radioactive emissions as “very dangerous” and demanded an official safety inspection of its factories. The French nuclear establishment cannot claim to set public fears on this and similar other counts at rest….

Sarkozy’s India Visit: The Nuclear Fallout,  22 December 2010, by: J. Sri Raman, t r u t h o u t“….What, however, is the French record in this particular field [nuclear public acceptance,reliability and safety] ? Continue reading →

December 22, 2010 Posted by | France, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

AREVA nuclear company in the economic doldrums

Drumming up investor interest in such a politically sensitive business has proved tough……………..there are good industrial reasons why even long-term investors are wary of Areva. ….. growth in new nuclear capacity is sluggish.

Areva Capital Raise Is Just a Stopgap – WSJ.com,

By MATTHEW CURTIN

14 Dec 10, Selling 15% of Areva to strategic investors was supposed to herald a fresh start for France’s state-owned nuclear-technology champion after years of dithering. Instead, the government has come up with a temporary fix Continue reading →

December 14, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, France | Leave a comment

Fundraising for AREVA to meet its financial needs

Though President Nicolas Sarkozy gave his blessing last year to a sale of 15 per cent of Areva’s shares to strategic industrial and financial partners, the process has been beset by controversy and public bickering among France’s nuclear champions…………

French state in U-turn on Areva listing,  FT.com By Peggy Hollinger in Paris  December 10 2010 20:11 The French government is aiming to bring Areva to a full market listing before June next year in a U-turn on the future of the strategic and politically sensitive nuclear group. Continue reading →

December 11, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, France | Leave a comment

France moving towards agreement on NATO missile defence system

During the recent Lisbon Summit NATO’s member states — including France — agreed to a new Strategic Concept that included a missile defence system. …… France no longer blocked NATO’s use of new defensive weapons….

France’s Silent Strategic Revolution, THE HUFFINGTON POST, Rabah Ghezali, 10 Dec 10, France has always maintained that the possession of nuclear weapons first and foremost provides a deterrent to aggressive acts against its interests. However, it retains the policy option of using nuclear weapons in a further first strike capacity.

The French strategic doctrine has always been and remains one of crushing retaliation, in contrast to the US and UK strategy of allowing for more flexible responses such as a gradual, “pre-strategic” use of nuclear weapons.

In the light of this policy divide, the negative French reaction to the 1999 US National Missile Defence Act was entirely consistent . Paris considered anti-missile defence unnecessary and destabilizing. Since the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the doctrine of Mutually Assured destruction remained the foundations of French strategic thinking, missile defence appeared to jeopardize the status quo and risk starting a new arms race with Russia.

Even more fundamentally, however, Paris feared that missile defense would undermine its nuclear posture. The French position was clear. Nuclear capabilities, it insisted, must remain the sole strategic system protecting the country. ……

During the recent Lisbon Summit NATO’s member states — including France — agreed to a new Strategic Concept that included a missile defence system. President Sarkozy’s approval constituted a rupture in France’s long-standing opposition to strategic missile defence. Recognizing options other than “all or nothing,” France no longer blocked NATO’s use of new defensive weapons….

Rabah Ghezali: France’s Silent Strategic Revolution

December 10, 2010 Posted by | France, weapons and war | Leave a comment

France’s struggle to be the world’s king of nuclear reactor sales

The real problem, ….. is that Areva’s main reactor offering, one of the most advanced on the market, is too expensive—

France Aims to Be Atop the Nuclear Pile – WSJ.com,  29 Nov 10, “……..In an attempt to restore its companies to prominence, the French government has reorganized the nation’s nuclear sector. Continue reading →

November 30, 2010 Posted by | France, politics | Leave a comment