Areva Signs Three Cooperation Agreements with Italian Nuclear Power Players

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--During last week's fifth bilateral summit between France and Italy, France's nuclear technology and services provider Areva SA (EPA:CEI) (Paris, France) signed three nuclear power cooperation agreements with technology and industrial partners. The first agreement was signed with Italian power company Ansaldo Energia (Genoa, Italy), a subsidiary of holding company Finmeccanica SpA (BIT:FNC) (Rome, Italy). The agreement was signed by CEO Anne Lauvergeon of Areva and CEO Giuseppe Zampini of Ansaldo Energia. The agreement will give Ansaldo access to Areva's EPR nuclear technology.

The agreement will permit the two companies to work on the joint venture projects of Enel SpA (BIT:ENEL) (Rome) and Electricite de France SA (EPA:EDF) (EDF) (Paris, France) in Italy that aim to build at least four reactors using EPR technology, and to work on other projects.

The partnership will commence with cooperation on existing Areva projects, such as the Olkiluoto 3 EPR reactor being constructed in Finland, and will extend to cooperation in engineering, supply of special components, erection and commissioning tests on future projects. Enel is an electricity operator while EDF is an integrated energy operator.

Lauvergeon signed the second agreement with Enrico Bonatti, CEO of the multinational company Techint (Milan, Italy). The agreement is expected to encourage the cooperation of the two companies on future turnkey nuclear power projects throughout the world. Techint is highly experienced in the design and construction of large industrial facilities.

The third agreement was signed with Giuseppe Forasassi, the president of CIRTEN (Pisa, Italy), which is an inter-university consortium for implementing nuclear research and technology. The consortium comprises the universities of Padua, Palermo, Pisa, Roma La Sapienza, and Polytechnic Turin and Polytechnic Milan. Areva has agreed to contribute to the development of Italy's new industrial competencies by providing useful information and conference speakers. Professional training, development of research projects and internships will be the other offerings of the agreement.

Following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Italy had phased out its nuclear power sector in 1987. However, given the soaring oil prices in recent times and the nation's commitment to reducing greenhouse gases, Italy has re-entered the sector. In 2008, the nation announced plans to begin construction of new nuclear power plants by 2013 and to begin production by 2020. The country's 2030 energy target is to develop an energy mix that includes 25% nuclear, 25% renewables, and 50% fossil fuels. In February 2009, Enel and EDF signed two industry cooperation agreements, and in August 2009 the two companies formed the 50:50 joint venture company Sviluppo Nucleare Italia (Rome) to study the feasibility of developing four reactors in Italy.

During the French-Italian summit, Finmeccanica signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with Enel and EDF, under which Ansaldo will become a key supplier to the Enel-EDF venture. Enel and EDF will be the chief architects and investors of the project and will be responsible for the project management and the design, construction and commissioning of the reactors. Ansaldo will bring its experience in the research, planning, design and commissioning of nuclear power systems. Ansaldo will contribute its expertise during the licensing and certification processes as well, both critical to the construction of every reactor. Ansaldo Nucleare (Genoa), the wholly-owned nuclear arm of Ansaldo Energia, will be involved in the qualification and tender processes implemented by EDF and Enel for the supply of equipment, engineering systems and installation. The agreement will also enable Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare to participate in supply and engineering tenders for EDF's EPR projects outside Italy, subject to approval by EDF and Enel.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and French President Nicolas Sarkozy jointly chaired the French-Italian bilateral summit in Paris. President Sarkozy appreciated Italy's decision to redevelop its nuclear power sector and said that France hoped to work with Italy to rebuild the country's nuclear power sector. The memoranda signed by French companies Areva and EDF with the Italian companies Ansaldo Energia, Enel, Finmeccanica, Techint and CIRTEN demonstrate the two countries' future cooperation. France hopes to position itself as Italy's key atomic energy partner as Italy restarts its nuclear power journey.

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