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Sarkozy focused on promoting France’s nuclear sales

President Nicolas Sarkozy is hoping to use France’s nuclear expertise as a platform to project the country’s political and economic influence around the world

Areva and EDF spat shows nuclear tensions FT.com By Peggy Hollinger: January 19 2010 There has always been some sniping between EDF and Areva, France’s two state-owned nuclear champions…..

Yet there was a degree of hostility in the latest round of guerrilla warfare that was surprising even to the most hardened observers of the two companies. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, France | , , , , , | Leave a comment

France using OECD in promotion for their troubled nuclear industry

many countries are clearly unhappy to see the international organisation linked to what could clearly be interpreted as a public relations exercise on the part of the French to promote their energy and nuclear champions.

French PR vexes OECD  FD is South Korea’s weakness FDI.com  By Christian Oliver in Seoul January 19 2010 “…..Foreign investors are very clear why South Korea is punching beneath its weight. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and FDI is South Korea’s weakness  “…. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | France, politics international | , , , , , | Leave a comment

France having a “Nuclear De Naissance”, not “Renaissance”

What’s the opposite of a renaissance, do you think? Nuclear Reaction  15 Jan 2010 De naissance, perhaps. We ask because in France, the supposed cradle of the rebirth of the nuclear renaissance,  things seem to be sliding backwards rather than striding forwards.

According to the grid operator RTE, electricity generation from the country’s 58 nuclear reactors fell by 6.8% in 2009, marking a ten year low point. This shortfall meant France was a net importer of electricity for 57 days.

President Nicholas Sarkozyâ’s nuclear bandwagon is said to be leading the world. Just where it’s leading us however is more difficult to say. It seems to be travelling in the general direction away from a bright future of clean and secure energy supplies
Nuclear Reaction – A Greenpeace blog about nuclear power: More Atomic Tales: Uranium with juice at… « Your Green Ability

January 17, 2010 Posted by | France, spinbuster | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Design of AREVA’s EPR reactors not shown to be safe

Nuclear Reactors of Unproven Design Planned for California’s Central Valley Environment News Service FRESNO, California, January 6, 2010 (ENS) – At least one nuclear reactor is being planned for California’s agricultural Central Valley but it is already running into grassroots opposition and technical problems. Continue reading

January 7, 2010 Posted by | France, safety | , , , , , | 1 Comment

USA backs AREVA, while indigenous nuclear victims suffer

Meltdown, USA: Nuclear Drive Trumps Safety Risks and High Cost 06 January 2010 by: Art Levine, t r u t h o u t | News Analysis………whether in Native-American reservations here or in Niger villages abroad, indigenous, impoverished people live near or work in uranium mines to supply nuclear plants, and suffer the consequences in cancers, birth defects and leukemia. Continue reading

January 7, 2010 Posted by | indigenous issues, Niger | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AREVA’s uranium mining caused radioactivity in Niger city

AREVA confirms Greenpeace’s alarming radiation findings in Niger –  All Africa.com 5 January 2010 Following Greenpeace’s report of radioactive hotspots in the uranium mining city Akokan in Niger, AREVA has confirmed that the radioactivity in the streets of Akokan was unacceptably high. Under pressure from civil society the French nuclear company has taken action to clean up the spots indicated by Greenpeace. Continue reading

January 6, 2010 Posted by | environment, Niger | , , , , , | Leave a comment

United Arab Emirates could spark off nuclear arms race

UAE Joins The Nuclear Club. Who’s Next? Energy Tribune  Dec. 30, 2009 By Andres Cala This week, the United Arab Emirates awarded a $20 billion contract to South Korea’s state power company to build four 1,400 megawatt nuclear reactors by 2020.The UAE’s will be the first Arab country with nuclear power. Continue reading

December 31, 2009 Posted by | MIDDLE EAST, weapons and war | , , , | Leave a comment

Despite building delays in Finland, AREVA seeks EPR nuclear contract in California

Areva eyes California’s Central Valley for nuclear reactors San Francisco Business Times – by Steven E.F. Brown December 29, 2009

French nuclear power giant  AREVA is talking to a group of investors about putting one or two atomic power plants in California’s Central Valley.

Paris-based Areva said Tuesday it’s signed a letter of intent with Fresno Nuclear Eneegy Group LLC, which it calls “a group of investors,” about early work necessary to bring the company’s advanced EPR technology to California…………

Areva has been working on the EPR project in Finland for four years, a third reactor on an island at Olkiluoto, on the country’s southwestern coast. That 1,600 megawatt project was set to start generating power this year, but has been delayed.

December 30, 2009 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some anxiety in the French nuclear industry

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……….. Continue reading

December 30, 2009 Posted by | business and costs, France | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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……….. Continue reading

December 30, 2009 Posted by | business and costs, France | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear energy – a continuing blowout in costs

Nuclear economics just don’t add up Sydney Morning Herald MICHAEL R. JAMES December 24, 2009 -“………………..the first-build of the most evolved advanced model in production, Areva’s EPR, which was supposed to be simpler, more efficient, cheaper and faster to build. In Finland’s Olkiluotu a 50 per cent blowout in costs (to $US6.4 billion so far, lawsuits pending) and doubling in construction time (from 3.5 years to at least seven years) is typical of nuclear projects over the decades. Continue reading

December 24, 2009 Posted by | 2 WORLD, business and costs | , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear energy not cheap, not clean,

Greenpeace debunks nuclear benefit “expanding global nuclear capacity would be accompanied by costs of nearly $10 trillion.” Malaysia Business Insight BY PAUL ICAMINA

NUCLEAR’S contribution in easing climate change is “too little, too late,” the anti-nuclear group Greenpeace said. Continue reading

December 18, 2009 Posted by | 2 WORLD, business and costs, climate change | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

India going into big debt for nuclear power program

India’s Nuclear Power Plans to Borrow $6.5 Billion By Archana Chaudhary Dec. 17 (Bloomberg) – Nuclear Power Corp. of India, the nation’s monopoly atomic generator, plans to borrow as much as $6.5 billion to fund six new reactors. The state-run company will raise about 140 billion rupees ($3 billion) from loans and bonds to build four 700-megawatt plants, Chairman Shreyans Kumar Jain said in a phone interview from Mumbai today. It will also seek about $3.5 billion in loans for two 1,000-megawatt reactors it’s developing in Kudankulam with Russia’s Rosatom Corp., he said…… Continue reading

December 18, 2009 Posted by | business and costs, India | , , , , | Leave a comment

France’s nuclear power troubled in extreme weather

French Nuclear Power Struggles in a Cold Snap Business Week by: Carol Matlack on December 16 “…… the system also has shortcomings, as became evident this week when a cold snap sent electricity demand soaring. Continue reading

December 17, 2009 Posted by | France | , , , , , | Leave a comment

France’s grand nuclear loan to increase global debt

France to Tap Financial Markets for EU35 Billion Grand Loan By Francois de Beaupuy and Helene Fouquet
Dec. 14 (Bloomberg) – French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government will earmark 35 billion euros ($51 billion) for its “Grand Loan” to aid manufacturers such as Areva SA, raising the bulk of the money in financial markets.

The government will sell 22 billion euros of debt to finance the loan with the remaining 13 billion euros coming from banks reimbursing the government aid they received to help weather the country’s worst economic slump in 60 years, Sarkozy said at a press conference in Paris today……………….Sarkozy’s grand loan, which may benefit companies including European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. and jet-engine maker Safran SA, will add to the country’s debt, which rose to 1.43 trillion euros, or 74 percent of gross domestic product, at the end of the second quarter. Government stimulus spending is boosting global debt levels and threatening to undermine the creditworthiness of some the world’s safest sovereign borrowers………………..As part of the grand loan the government will earmark 5 billion euros for sustainable development, including for fourth- generation nuclear power plants being built by Areva.,,,,,,,,,,The plan will also trigger 25 billion euros of investment from private companies, local governments and European agencies, he said.

France to Tap Financial Markets for EU35 Billion Grand Loan – Bloomberg.com

December 15, 2009 Posted by | 1 NUCLEAR ISSUES, politics | , , , | Leave a comment