AREVA prepares to face unexpected competition, even if it seems symbolic. Via its Belgian subsidiary Tractebel Engineering, GDF Suez has indeed signed yesterday a framework agreement with Chinese China National Nuclear Corporation (NCAGS) to help build a pilot of Mox in China plant. The nuclear fuel is manufactured from plutonium and depleted uranium. It is part of the core business of Areva, which has a plant of Mox at Marcoule, in the Gard, and negotiates for years with China the export of this technology with treatment, which it closely.
The agreement was signed in Brussels in the presence of the Belgian Prime Minister outgoing, Yves Leterme, and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao. Side Belgian, signatories are Tractebel, the Centre for the study of the Belgian nuclear energy (SCK - CEN) and their joint subsidiary, Belgonucléaire. "This framework agreement sets the context for the construction of a pilot plant for manufacture of Mox fuel in China and for the use of Mox in Chinese nuclear reactors", indicates the release. It can lead "in relatively short time to a commercial agreement including technology transfer and technical assistance on the part of the Belgian partners." The parties want to conclude the agreement by the end of the year. "The Chinese have the intention to have a pilot operation in 2015 plant," said Achilles De Backer, Belgonucléaire spokesman, without indicating the potential amount of the contract. This first plant should have a capacity of the order of 5 to 6 tonnes, against 195 tonnes for the Melox of Areva plant. But NCAGS can then exploit its new know-how to build other plants, to fuel its fleet. China plans to build 40-60 nuclear reactors by 2030.
The Belgium was the first country to manufacture of Mox, as early as 1960. The technology is owned by Belgonucléaire, who used it in his own factory in Dessel, that he had to close in 2006 without need for Belgium and the absence of contracts with Areva. The French public group long sub-contracted part of its activity in Belgium. Dessel plant is currently being dismantled.
This new competition of GDF Suez comes the group chaired by Gérard Mestrallet feels increasingly isolated in the French nuclear industry. The refusal of the State to grant an operator role, the Group announced in September to the Prime Minister its withdrawal of the draft EPR of Penly in Seine-Maritime. Ignored in the Roussely report on the future of the French nuclear industry, it nor did his project of global partnership with Areva, even if he studied with the group chaired by Anne Lauvergeon medium reactor development power Atmea.
Public authorities caution
AREVA, which is negotiating the sale of two additional EPR Chinese operator CGNPC, is serene in the belgo-chinois agreement. For him, the pilot plant does not change its ambition to sell an integrated plant treatment and recycling of Mox, which would be much more important, because talking about 800 tonnes to China. "It is not abnormal to try a plane before flying an A380", relativizes a framework of the group. On the project of 15 billion euros, Areva discussed for years with NCAGS, but French authorities fear a risk of proliferation and are cautious on the folder. "Perhaps the Chinese wanted to put pressure on the France by signing with the Belgian...". ", wondered what an expert in the sector.
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