French proposal for nuclear plants in United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates-France, Economics, 1/15/2008

French oil company Total SA, utility Suez SA and nuclear engineering specialist Areva said yesterday they are working together on plans to build a civil nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates.

In a statement carried by Dow Jones Newswires, the three companies said their proposal would include two third-generation European pressurized reactors - Areva's 1,600 megawatt star product - as well as fuel cycle products and services.

They did not say when the proposal would be submitted to Emirati authorities and financial details weren't given.

Total and Suez, the owner of Belgium's nuclear park, are already present in the United Arab Emirates at the Taweelah desalination and power plant, which generates around 20 percent of the country's electricity, the statement said.

Total Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie flagged the company's interest in nuclear power and other forms of clean fuel energy mid-December.

He told French business daily Les Echos he expects Total to diversify into both fields within 20 years.

Areva is currently building two EPRs, which compete with Westinghouse Electric Co.'s AP1000 reactors, in Finland and northern France.

France relies on nuclear for most of its electricity and already hosts two state-owned nuclear champions: Areva and Electricite de France SA, whose nuclear activities account for 71.2 percent of its generation.

Previous Stories:
  UAE for boosting economic cooperation with France   (4/30/2003)
  Commercial cooperation among French, UAE companies   (10/29/1999)
  Improving trade between the Emirates and France   (3/24/1998)

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