Areva experienced growth of 7.6% to E3.14 billion in its front end division sales revenue. The division’s enrichment operations also posted strong growth. Sales were up by 17.5% to E2.717 billion in the reactors and services division.
Sales revenue was driven in particular by the growth of services operations, after weak demand in 2006, by progress on the Finnish OL3 nuclear power project construction, and by the start of Flamanville-3, the second European pressurized reactor (EPR).
For the back end division, sales revenue was down by 8.9% to E1.738 billion due to staggered production in the treatment business. For the transmission and distribution division, sales were up by 16.2% to E4.327 billion, continuing the positive performance of the past several quarters in the products and systems businesses, particularly in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
Areva’s backlog reached a record level of E39.834 billion as of December 31, 2007, up by 55% from that of year-end 2006. The nuclear division’s backlog was E34.927 billion at year-end 2007, an increase of 58%, due in particular to a record contract with the Chinese utility CGNPC.
