25 Apr (NucNet): Areva has signed a series of “key nuclear agreements” in China that cover the front end and the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as nuclear reactors, the French company has announced.
Areva said the agreements were signed by its president and chief executive officer Luc Oursel in Beijing today in the presence of Chinese president Xi Jinping and French president François Hollande.
The agreements include a letter of intent to build a used fuel treatment and recycling facility in China and a tripartite agreement fostering “deeper industrial and commercial cooperation” between Areva, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Company (CGNPC) and EDF, which operates 58 commercial reactors in France.
The agreement to build a used fuel treatment and recycling facility was signed with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Areva called the agreement “a decisive milestone” and said it covers the technical specifications and the project organisation as well as the responsibilities and scope of work for each partner.
The facility would process used nuclear fuel from Chinese nuclear plants to recover the reusable materials and recycle them as fuel. The facility would have a capacity to treat 800 metric tonnes of used fuel per year.
The reactor agreement between Areva, CGNPC and EDF reaffirms the companies’ “willingness to complete” construction of the Taishan-1 and Taishan-2 European Pressurised Water Reactors (EPRs), and to start their commercial operation. This will set the stage for the development of future reactors, Areva said.
Areva and CGNPC plan to analyse the “return on experience” gained from the construction of Taishan-1 and Taishan-2.
Last year Areva said the first Taishan unit is scheduled to begin commercial operation in December 2013 and the second in October 2014. In April 2012, Areva delivered the first two steam generators and the pressuriser for Taishan-1.
Areva and CNCC also confirmed progress in their discussions on CNNC’s potential acquisition of equity in the Areva subsidiary that holds a 66.65 percent stake in the Imouraren uranium mine in Niger.
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