AREVA signs series of deals with Chinese nuclear partners

The French energy company AREVA has signed a series of deals with its Chinese nuclear partners during a visit to China by the French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. Working with […]

The French energy company AREVA has signed a series of deals with its Chinese nuclear partners during a visit to China by the French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Working with Siemens, the company will supply instrumentation and control (I&C) systems for two 1,000 MW pressurized-water reactors – Fuqing 5 and 6.

The reactors will be built by China Nuclear Power Engineering, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). Construction on reactor 5 is set to kick off in 2014, with work on reactor 6 scheduled to start the following year.

AREVA has previously signed deals to provide I&C systems for a number of other Chinese reactors.

The firm will also look into creating a joint company with CNNC, with the purpose of making and converting zirconium alloys used in the production of nuclear fuel assemblies. AREVA said the new company could be making around 610 tonnes of zirconium alloys each year for the Chinese market by 2017.

The deals weren’t confined to just the nuclear sector. The energy company agreed to form a partnership with China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) to identify potential joint projects in offshore wind, biomass, solar power and energy storage as well.

Luc Oursel, President and CEO of AREVA said:  “These agreements will support the development of nuclear and renewables energy in China while reinforcing AREVA’s presence in these markets which will create jobs both France and China.”

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