In keeping with an agreement between the French and Russian governments declared last year, utilities Areva (Euronext: CEI) and Rosatom have signed a memorandum of understanding, pledging to set up working groups to study opportunities for strengthening their cooperation in the nuclear power sector.


The governments had agreed in 2011 to enable nuclear oriented companies from both countries to work more closely together and the working groups will focus their attention on a variety of topics including: services to existing nuclear reactors, particularly those based on Russian VVER technology; the management of spent fuel; and cooperation in manufacturing and supply chain for nuclear island’s components.

A strategic committee will oversee the joint studies, headed by the chief operating officers of both groups, reports Nuclear Engineering International.

Director general of Rosatom, Sergey Kirienko commented: “In such essential industry as nuclear power, the competition in separate market segments doesn’t exclude the cooperation.”

Kirienko and Areva chief Luc Oursel signed the memorandum of understanding on behalf of Rosatom and Areva.

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