Crucial day on Tuesday for French nuclear. By late morning, the President convened the Council of nuclear policy, simply responsible for developing strategic thrusts of the French sector, based on the recommendations of the report Roussely.
The latter, watched impatiently for several weeks, has finally been published. Or more precisely, a synthesis of some twenty pages, available from Tuesday evening at the site of the Elysee. Originally, the former President of EDF had been instructed by Nicolas Sarkozy to consider the optimization of a sector hurt by the failure of the bidding in Abu Dhabi on the creation four stations of the future.
But more than this summary and fifteen major recommendations, the Council communiqué nuclear policy, also disclosed this Tuesday evening, which proved enlightening.He devotes just the rule of EDF on the sector. Admittedly, this rule was expected, but not necessarily rooted with such intensity.
Not only a strategic partnership agreement between EDF and Areva covering the whole of their common business will be established, but the scenario of a capital input of EDF, Areva will be studied.
So far, Areva group present on the cycle (uranium mining to reprocessing spent fuel) was working on the principle of a capital increase, but a scenario involving a stake EDF No. had never been formally considered.Conversely, in its report published in summer 2009, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, the current chairman of the supervisory board of Areva, had reversed this possibility, considering that it was inappropriate for a client of Areva entered the capital quick pay day loan.
GDF Suez absent
Meanwhile, the Council of nuclear policy has confirmed that the increased initial capital of Areva, to the tune of 15%, would be implemented before the end of the year.If EDF was to enter the capital of Areva, it would be in addition to the 15% threshold.
Meanwhile, the two companies, which face regularly on many issues, are invited to work much more efficiently.
In addition to these developments planned capital, the other major teaching issued by the Council of nuclear policy, largely supported by the report Roussely, based on the total absence of GDF Suez in this folder. However, the group led by Gerard Mestrallet have long aspired to become a nuclear operator of reference in France. It has not been heard, far from it. This should not preclude that GDF Suez may work, as EDF, on the development of a medium-power reactor. Provided that if the Council insists on nuclear policy the considerable potential of the EPR, it also stresses that the range of French reactors should be extended."To better meet the diverse needs of the customer."
In this regard, the report Roussely pin delays of the two EPR sites, one in Finland and one in the Channel.
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