China and France Build Nuclear Reactors

Areva SA, a French state-owned nuclear engineering company, has signed a US$11.9 billion commercial-power contract with China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group [CGNPG] on Monday, November 26 2007. Under the contract, Areva will take part in building two EPR nuclear reactors in a southern province in the PRC and will provide necessary support and services to operate them.

The two reactors will be the third and fourth EPR to be built by Areva SA in the world after Finland and France. Apart from designing and manufacturing nuclear power and high-voltage reactors, Areva also has enrichment plants to make nuclear fuels and mining businesses that extract uranium in Niger and Canada. The French nuclear engineering company has offices and sites in many provinces in the PRC, with its head office stationed in Beijing.

While Areva specializes in nuclear engineering, CGNPG owns several nuclear power stations. The Chinese company is also involved in the development of clean energy such as wind power and hydropower.