in July the French nuclear safety authority

To win contracts abroad, can EDF propose other reactors as the Areva EPR, as do its competitors GDF Suez or Enel So far, the subject was taboo. No question of introducing a Russian, a Chinese and an American team"France of nuclear power". But clearly, François Roussely, who will be heard this afternoon by the commission for Economic Affairs of the National Assembly, opened the discussion.

Without compromise on security, EDF should be foreign to its catalogue reactors, recommends the former President of the company. "I t is appropriate to consider the new smaller power reactors developed by foreign industrial partners", he wrote in his report synthesis published late July.

The direction of EDF is on the same wavelength. From his point of view, if the France to take advantage of the revival of the atom, it must certainly optimize EPR reactor, but also complement its range. Otherwise the contract will be earned by competitors such as Korean Kepco, which won December last the United Arab Emirates.

South Africa tender

The question is actually on the tender being reopened in South Africa. According to several sources, EDF has proposed to ally with cgnpc Chinese, seeking to sell to the public electrician Eskom his CPR-1000 reactor, whose technology is of French origin. Such an offer would be competitive and, on a geostrategic level, it would respond to the desire of the South Africa and China to work more together. While enjoying the EDF, which could provide unparalleled expertise to operator nuclear. Hervé Machenaud, historical head of the Chinese activities and pattern of production-engineering group division, would be particularly favourable.

But this option was rejected by the State by the public authorities. "Nuclear policy Council did not agree", indicates a close to the record. Instead the CPR-1000, EDF could therefore reach the offer on the Areva EPR project. Left to what Chinese CGNPC is associated with.

The subject is obviously political. How balance support for the French nuclear sector claimed by the President of the Republic and allow EDF focus of Areva competitors Especially at a time when the State invites two national champions to sign a strategic agreement and examines the possibility of a rise in the capital of Areva by EDF. And even he is negotiating with foreign investors the opening of the capital of the group chaired by Anne Lauvergeon.

Security objectives

But the choice of technology is also a question of security. CPR-1000 is a second generation, unlike the PRT model, which is a third-generation reactor. The difference According to experts, the EPR takes into account Three Miles Island and Chernobyl accidents and the attacks of September 11, 2001. Its design is intended to prevent this kind of accidents, or at least their consequences. "Face to projects to export reactors do not meet these safety objectives, the ASN would not hesitate to say that such reactors could not be built in France", i.e. in July the French nuclear safety authority.

Another risk, that of EDF awarded a sort of label to a foreign competitor, which could then to guard against other markets. In short, the French electrician would serve as step.

This does not exclude the possibility, one day, that EDF uses the Chinese reactor, but should first improve security standards - which takes time. The Habs electrician also studied other alliance, with Russian Rosatom, manufacturer of the VVER.

In the immediate future, nuclear policy Council decided to join the certification of the reactor Atmea, a "small PRT" developed by Areva and Mitsubishi EDF with GDF Suez.