It was last January. At Matignon, Francois Fillon met Henri Proglio, CEO of EDF, and Anne Lauvergeon, president and CEO of Areva, to ask them, among other things, to settle their trade disputes in progress. Since then, several weeks have passed and little has changed. In any case the most sensitive issue, that of Eurodif, Areva plant located in the Rhone valley and which enriches uranium for the nuclear plants of EDF.
The contract between the two companies for these operations will run until the end of 2010. Then, or more precisely from 2013, is the brand new Georges Besse II plant – currently under construction – which will take over Eurodif. With, already, a solid contractual basis between the two groups since the short period 2013-2032.However, for the years 2011 and 2012 – the last two operations Eurodif – nothing is planned.
Specifically, EDF does not extend the current contract. Besides the fact that it has stocks of enriched uranium, the electrician lights will also appeal to other providers, namely the Anglo-German-Dutch Urenco and Russian Tenex. Moreover, Georges Besse II shall work more than 40% for EDF, while qu'Eurodif provides in recent years more than 60% of uranium enriched to EDF.While Areva did not deny the right of the speaker to act as he does, "except that before initiating a long lease on Georges Bessei, there is room for both groups based on a better footing," said an industry expert.
Mediation ultimately
But most importantly, the group led by Anne Lauvergeon, the end of the partnership with EDF on Eurodif is extremely penalizing financially. Even if he is careful to communicate officially on the subject, Areva made its accounts that would be tantamount pour2011 et2012, to an operating loss of around 500 million euros. This is not the spreading of the current production of enriched uranium to provide a solution.Similarly, for Areva impossible to find one or more replacements to EDF: In a sector as sensitive as the nuclear industry partnerships are formed very early.
As for EDF, the decision to discontinue its activities with Eurodif could pose problems on the technical level. Currently, two of the four reactors at the plant near Tricastin run on behalf of the enrichment plant, which alone consumes 5% of French electricity production. In other words, the electrician will have to "evacuate" a surplus of electricity on a very consistent network still inadequate. During negotiations, Areva has raised the possibility of reducing the power Eurodif to affect more than a reactor there.
The social aspect, too, is in question. Currently, a thousand people work at the site of enrichment. EDF has made a proposal for resumption of such personnel.But there is no indication of either side, both companies refused to comment on the developments of a commercial negotiation.
Now widely aware of the "problem Eurodif, governments have not yet decided. "The teams are working on it tend to consider separately the optimum of both companies, making it difficult to find a solution," said one expert dossier. In any event, the outcome is expected before summer.
We dare not imagine that these two companies majority-controlled by the State does not end up agreeing. In the meantime, the prime minister could still be forced to intervene. A mediation ultimately still destructive in terms of image for the French nuclear industry.
ALSO READ:
"Competition: EDF impose its conditions" Public debate on a second EPR
"Nuclear: report tracks Roussely
- Fillon convened Proglio and Lauvergeon
- Borloo hopes of rapid progress in EDF's Areva
- Siemens will pay 648 million in Areva
- Sarkozy ready to enter the capital of EDF Areva
- The report reaffirms the leadership Roussely EDF