12 Jul (NucNet): Areva and EDF of France have signed a cooperation agreement with the National Institute of Technology in Bahrah with the aim of contributing to the development of technical nuclear skills in Saudi Arabia.
The agreement demonstrates the willingness of the French nuclear industry to “contribute to the training of Saudi technicians” in various nuclear specialties such as welding, electrical installation, mechanics and electro-mechanics, Areva said.
The company said “localising” skills is at the heart of its development strategy, with Areva and EDF intending to rely on local partners for shared industrial projects.
The two companies recently welcomed representatives from several Saudi higher education establishments to their industrial sites in France in order to show them fuel cycle activities, operation of the nuclear plants and reactor construction.
Saudi Arabia does not have any nuclear plants, but in January 2012 signed an agreement with China to increase cooperation in the development and use of nuclear energy.
Saudi Arabia has also been in discussions with the US, the UK, Russia and the Czech Republic over better cooperation in nuclear energy.
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To contact the editor responsible for this story: David Dalton at dalton.david@nucnet.org
