THE WORLD'S NUCLEAR NEWS AGENCY

World Nuclear Review - week ending 8th October 2004

China Launches Bid Process For Sanmen and Yangjiang Projects

China has launched a call for bids toward the construction of one pair of power units for the country's planned Sanmen nuclear power plant and a second pair of units for its planned Yangjiang plant - and involving vendor companies Areva, Westinghouse and Atomstroyexport of Russia.

An Areva spokesman told NucNet that the 28th September announcement by the China National Technical Export and Import Corp followed contact by the Chinese authorities approximately two weeks earlier. He said that Areva, along with Westinghouse and Atomstroyexport of Russia, had been invited to make an offer for a package of two-by-two pressurised water reactor (PWR) nuclear steam-generation systems with a generating capacity of at least 1,000 megawatts (MW) per unit.

Areva will offer to construct four 1,600MW European pressurised water reactors (EPRs). However, the spokesman said Areva is also prepared to provide 1,000MW PWRs similar to what it has delivered to China's Ling Ao nuclear power plant - while saying Areva believes China would like to have the option of the EPRs.

Westinghouse is expected to offer its AP1000 advanced reactor design - which received final design approval by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission last month. There are currently two Russian-designed light water VVER-1000 reactor units under construction at the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's eastern province of Jiangsu.

Source: Areva / Westinghouse

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No. 38, 8th October

France Issues EPR Design Approval

The French government, through national nuclear regulator DGSNR, has issued design approval for the 1,600-megawatt European pressurised water reactor (EPR) developed by Framatome ANP.

DGSNR director-general AndrÈ-Claude Lacoste made the announcement, on behalf of the ministers for economy, finance and industry and for ecology and sustainable development, in a 28th September letter to national utility ElectricitÈ de France. In part, the letter reads: "At this stage of the examination of the EPR reactor project, we consider that the actual safety options, including the recent developments of the containment building design, satisfy in general the set goal for the general improvement in safety."

Source: DGSNR

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No. 38, 8th October

Romania Looks For Partners To Complete Cernavoda-3

The Romanian government is looking for companies to act as a partner in completing unit three of the country's Cernavoda nuclear power plant.

The nearly 1 billion US dollars in financing for the project is expected to be arranged in 2006 - so that the 700-megawatt class Candu 6 power unit can be connected to the grid in 2011. Approximately 70% of the investment would be financed through future cash flow and assets. The public-private company selected to complete the project would control and operate Cernavoda-3 for a 40-year period.

Earlier this year, Romanian nuclear utility Nuclearelectrica selected consultants Deloitte & Touche to help prepare a feasibility study into the proposed completion of Cernavoda-3 - and into the proposed public-private partnership project. Nulearelectrica said it had already carried out an initial evaluation of the technical and economic aspects of the project - based on technology of the Candu 6 type similar to Cernavoda units one and two.

The letters of interest from potential partners concerning the completion of Cernaoda-3 are expected by 24th October.

Source: Romanian Nuclear Energy Association

Full report: NucNet News No. 190, 4th October

EC Approves Areva-Urenco Enrichment Joint Venture

The European Commission (EC) announced on 6th October the granting of regulatory approval to a joint venture involving enrichment technology between French nuclear group Areva and Urenco, a company set up by the governments of the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.

The EC said the approval was possible after it received guarantees that Areva and Urenco "would act independently, in particular when deciding on future capacity, and that Euratom Supply Agency (ESA) would increase its monitoring means".

By the proposed transaction Areva will acquire joint control over Enrichment Technology Company (ETC), which is active in the development and manufacturing of centrifuges for uranium enrichment. In future, ETC, formerly under sole control of Urenco, will supply its parents and also third parties. Areva and Urenco will, however, remain competitors on the downstream market for enriched uranium.

Source: EC

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No. 37, 7th October

"Mox For Peace" Plutonium Arrives At Cogema's Cadarache Plant

Areva has announced that 140 kilograms of weapons-origin plutonium from the US arrived at the Cogema Cadarache plant early this morning - transported by road under - optimum safety conditions.

The plutonium transport had arrived by ship at Cogema's La Hague plant near Cherbourg yesterday - before being transferred to a road container.

Source: Areva

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No. 38, 8th October

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