The French government Tuesday announced the creation of a 133 million euros ($178.8 million) fund to help the nuclear industry's small and medium-sized companies develop, as France seeks to boost one of its export champions.
The French government Tuesday announced the creation of a 133 million
euros ($178.8 million) fund to help the nuclear industry's small and
medium-sized companies develop, as
France
seeks
to boost one of its export champions.
France
has
long relied on atomic power to provide most of its electricity and its state-controlled
power group Electricité de France SA (EDF.FR) is the world's largest nuclear
operator, with 58 reactors.
The country has been trying to export its nuclear expertise, through
state-controlled nuclear engineering group Areva SA (AREVA.FR), which is
building a reactor in
Finland
, and
EDF, which is currently building two latest-generation reactors in
China
.
France
's
nuclear industry also comprises around 2,500 small and mid-sized companies,
employing as many as 220,000 workers, and the growth prospects are such that
the French nuclear industry is expected to create as many as 110,000 jobs by
2020, the energy and industry ministries said in a joint statement Tuesday.
The fund, announced Tuesday, should help provide necessary investments, the ministries
said, noting that EUR50 million will be provided by the newly created Banque
Publique d'Investissement and the rest will come from the sovereign fund Fonds
Strategique d'Investissement.
In spite of the nuclear catastrophe in
Japan
's
Fukushima
in
March 2011, growth prospects for nuclear energy remain promising, notably in
Asia
, with
India
in
talks to buy two reactors from Areva. EDF hopes to secure a contract for at
least two other reactors in
China
while
trying to develop a partnership with China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group to
design and sell medium-sized reactors.
The dismantling of nuclear installations could also provide growth
opportunities because many reactors and research centers are now becoming
obsolete.
Διαβάστε ακόμα
Τρι, 24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2024 - 19:58
Τρι, 24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2024 - 19:54
Τετ, 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2024 - 18:32
Τετ, 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2024 - 18:27
Τρι, 17 Σεπτεμβρίου 2024 - 20:01