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03.07.2008 No. 75 / News in Brief

Areva Boosting Production Of EPR Components In France

3 Jul (NucNet): Areva is to boost the production capacity of forged nuclear components including reactor vessels and steam generators, the group announced today.

Areva said an investment programme would see the production capacity at Le Creusot in Burgundy, France, of components required to build European Pressurised Water Reactors (EPRs) would increase from 80 per cent to 100 percent.

The programme will see an increase in annual ingot production at the Industeel steel works, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, from 35,000 tonnes to 50,000 tonnes by 2010.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch the programme was signed today by Areva’s chief executive officer Anne Lauvergeon and the chief financial officer of ArcelorMittal, Aditya Mittal. French president Nicolas Sarkozy attended the signing ceremony.

“At a time when nuclear power is enjoying a major global upswing, this increase in capacity will allow Areva to pursue the development of the French nuclear industry,” Areva said.

Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

04.07.2008 No. 25 / World Nuclear Review

Industry Welcomes Increased EU Public Support For Nuclear

4 Jul (NucNet): The European nuclear industry has welcomed the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey* on attitudes towards radioactive waste, which was published on 3 July 2008.

Foratom, the trade association representing the European nuclear industry, said the results show a gradual and significant evolution of public opinion in favour of nuclear power.

“Since the previous Eurobarometer on waste was published in 2005, there are now as many citizens who are in favour of nuclear energy (44 percent) as are against it (45 percent). This compares with 37 percent in favour and 55 percent against in 2005,” Foratom said.

“The announcement that a second EPR will be built in France demonstrates that where there is the political will to promote nuclear, there is no reason to believe that public opposition can prevent nuclear new build from going ahead.”

According to the Eurobarometer survey, there are now as many EU citizens in favour of nuclear as there are against it and public acceptance has improved in 17 out of 27 EU member countries.

Foratom director-general Santiago San Antonio said: “The results of the latest Eurobarometer show that opinions towards nuclear are on average quite moderate in the EU and that in many countries citizens are very much in favour of nuclear.

“The recent positive evolution of public opinion can be accounted for by the open debates that have been going on in many EU countries on energy and nuclear power. It indicates that information and transparency are essential for the future of the European nuclear industry.”

Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org