areva

The Germans have long feared that the French government planned to squeeze them out of Areva, and may have decided to pre-empt such a move.

It has ordered new reactors from two of the world's nuclear giants, Areva and Westinghouse, and is also building some of its own design.

But to the relief, no doubt, of companies like Westinghouse and Areva China's commitment to nuclear expansion has appeared unwavering.

Areva came under pressure to put older, cheaper designs back in its catalogue.

Because nuclear power was unpopular for decades, Areva stopped training engineers, so that much of its expertise lies with its oldest staff.

Even after Fukushima, indeed, Areva still urgently needs to bring down the cost of its EPR, argues a Paris-based adviser to the industry.

For the time being Siemens and Areva will still be bound together in one way at least.

With a new, possibly less combative chief executive, some fear that Areva's independence may be compromised.

In 2009 Siemens, a German engineering firm, unexpectedly pulled out of a joint venture with Areva.

"A merger with Alstom would not bring adequate financial resources, " says an Areva executive.

Officials at Areva say they hope to continue working with the company.

GE and Hitachi, two engineering giants, had launched a joint bid, as had a consortium led by France's nuclear champion, Areva.

Areva, a French nuclear giant, used the system to check a European plant for discrepancies in September.

These will be challenges for Areva's boss, Anne Lauvergeon, whose job is up for renewal by Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president, in June.

Talks between the two are continuing, an Areva spokeswoman says; EDF declined to comment.

It's unclear what role would be left for Siemens should Areva be partially privatized or split up.

GE, Areva and another rival, Westinghouse, are also touting new designs that they say are safer than existing nuclear plants.

Some 4% of Areva already trades publicly in the form of nonvoting investment certificates.

Under a separate contract, Areva is expected to supply uranium for other, less powerful reactors that CGNPC plans to build.

The government also plans to sell 15% of Areva to outside investors to give the company more cash to work with.

An Areva spokeswoman declined to comment on the progress of its China and India ventures.

Our plant will supply our customers with the latest available technology, the world class technology that our Chinese customer deserves.

To integrate the "technical know-how " of AREVA on oil - immersed transformer, and hire, train, motivate staff in the team.

Instead, Areva executives say they would like to obtain the government green light to raise cash through a rights issue.

Areva and Horizon declined to comment, while Toshiba Westinghouse could not be reached.

Areva and Mistubishi Heavy have rival designs of their own, but have also set up a joint venture to promote yet another type of reactor.

Meanwhile, Areva, a French nuclear company, is engineering ever more powerful plants.

So, in one way, Areva, majority-owned by the French state, could gain from Japan's nuclear disaster.

Areva's most important project, the construction of a new EPR in Finland, has gone far over budget and over schedule.

Walking away from Areva NP means turning its back on a big chunk of its former assets.

Executives at Areva's office in Beijing could not be reached for comment yesterday.

For its part, Areva blames poor Franco-German diplomatic relations for Siemens's exit.

Areva's political problems pale next to those of E. ON, a German electricity giant.

To assist AREVA Beijing in dealing with the Chinese administrative formalities for GM (visa, residence permit, work permit).

It became a shareholder in Areva NP not just by contributing money, but by bringing Germany's entire nuclear-power industry to the venture.

The French nuclear group Areva has confirmed it will ship recycled nuclear fuel, MOX, to Japan.

Nevertheless, the decision came as a shock to Areva.

Safety concerns will also boost two of Areva's most profitable divisions.

Will Anne Lauvergeon, the nuclear-energy industry's most tireless cheerleader, keep her job as boss of Areva?

The proposed plant will be built by the French company Areva.

Areva's preferred option is to issue more shares on the market, thus reducing the government's control.

This role supports the R&D and design effort in AREVA T&D production units.

Areva said this month that it expects to sign a big contract this year to supply reactors to India.

The French nuclear engineering firm Areva also defended its EPR design, which is also pending NRC approval.

Co-written by Anne Lauvergeon, chief of executive of Areva, the French nuclear group, it backed a big increase in atomic energy.

She badly wanted to stay on at Areva, a company she helped to create in 2001.

COGEMA became Areva after a merger with Framatome, a maker of nuclear reactors, in 2001.

The contract is worth around $3. 5 billion, Areva said in a statement.

Areva has already built and serviced many power plants in China, including nuclear facilities.

Another area where France's Areva looks set to pick up steady business in China is reprocessing nuclear waste.

The use of third-generation technology, such as Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor and Areva's EPR reactor, is gaining ground commercially.

Women run many of the world's great companies, from PepsiCo in America to Areva in France.

Areva is building 1, 650 megawatt EPRs in Finland, France and two in China, according to company officials.