It's the end of the cooperation between Areva and Siemens !
Power Engineering International
The Germans from Siemens A.G. have participated in a joint venture with French nuclear energy giant Areva for the past 8 years. The joint company - called Areva NP - was created in 2001, with 66% capital from Areva and 34% from Siemens.
Among the products commercialized by Areva NP are the third-generation EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) nuclear reactors.
Two of these reactors are under construction - one at Olkiluoto, Finland - the other one at Flamanville, France. Besides, Areva has signed with the Chinese electric operator CGNPC for 2 supplementary EPRs, to be located in Taishan, in the southern province of Quangdong. The deal, signed in November 2007, is worth some €8 billion ($12 billion).
Siemens will keep its 34% participation in Areva NP until 2012, but in reality, the divorce is already consumed. France has opposed an offer by Siemens to increase its participation in Areva NP. The Sarkozy government favoured concentration of French industrial actors around Areva. Bouygues and Alstom where among the government's candidates for a 'political' merger to create a nuclear power trust 100% national.
This decision prompted Siemens to turn to the russian nuclear agency, Rosatom, for a new partnership. Russian nuclear industry went a thorough overhaul in 2008, which allows Rosatom to offer a full range of solutions for nuclear power : nuclear fuel production, reactor building, operational maintenance and other services, reactor decommissioning and nuclear waste treatment.
A great setback for French nuclear industry. "A heckuva job", Mr. Sarkozy !
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