AREVA said that work continues with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) related to the pursuit of the used fuel treatment and recycling facility project. The companies also signed additional cooperation agreements in civil nuclear, including in digital instrumentation & control.

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AREVA said that work continues with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) related to the pursuit of the used fuel treatment and recycling facility project.

"The industrial negotiations for this project are advancing. The technical discussions to define the distribution of tasks and responsibilities are being finalized in line with the initial schedule. The negotiations will be entering the commercial phase. Furthermore, both companies plan to expand their cooperation in the fields of operational support and maintenance of the future facility as well as the used fuel logistical chain which is expecting strong growth in China over the coming years," an AREVA statement said.

AREVA president and CEO, Luc Oursel, and CNNC chairman Mr. Sun Qin signed an agreement related to the used fuel treatment and recycling facility project, in the presence of Mr. Xi Jinping, president of the People’s Republic of China and French president François Hollande on 26 March.

AREVA said that the parties had signed a letter of intent on the project in April 2013. In November 2010, AREVA and CNNC signed an industrial agreement on cooperation in the field of used fuel treatment and recycling and launched the creation of a 50/50 joint venture, CAST (CNNC AREVA Shanghai Tubing Co.), that will produce and market zirconium tubes for the fabrication of fuel assemblies.

Further cooperation agreements in civil nuclear

The companies also signed additional cooperation agreements in civil nuclear, including in digital instrumentation & control.

AREVA and CNNC also created a 49:51 joint venture for technology transfer of AREVA’s digital safety instrumentation and control (I&C) system to the Chinese market. The statement said that this alliance will contribute to reinforcing the safety of Chinese nuclear power plants. It will also enable AREVA to increase its industrial presence in this growing market in China.

AREVA said that the TELEPERM XS platform is licensed in 16 countries, and has been supplied or is currently being installed in about 80 nuclear reactors with 14 different designs.

Finally AREVA and CNNC also agreed to continue to identify opportunities for cooperation in all civil nuclear fields, in the fuel cycle as well as reactors and services.


Photo: AREVA’s Luc Oursel and Sun Qin