OREANDA-NEWS. July 18, 2012.  On the 18th of July, ROSATOM and AREVA (France) signed a Memorandum of Understanding where they stated agreements on setting up working groups for studying opportunities of strengthening of the mutually beneficial cooperation in the nuclear sphere.

The document was signed by Director General of ROSATOM Sergey Kirienko and President and Chief Executive Officer of AREVA Luc Oursel.

This decision is another step in furtherance of the Russian-French Interstate Declaration signed on November 18, 2011, which stated the intention to strengthen the ties between the two countries in the nuclear sphere.

Among other areas, the working groups are expected to focus on studies of opportunities for joint work in the field of service and modernization of NPPs in third countries, interaction in the development of reactor technologies based on fast neutron systems, SNF management, manufacture and supply of the nuclear island equipment. The progress of joint studies and analysis of decisions made will be controlled by a strategic committee to be headed by top managers of both companies.

“I’m glad to this agreement which not only states the leadership positions of our companies in the world nuclear industry, but also assumes the use of experience and knowledge our companies have to guarantee maximum reliability and safety in operating sites and installations. Besides, this agreement is a confirmation of the wish of Russia and France to develop mutually beneficial partnerships. In such essential industry as nuclear power, the competition in separate market segments doesn’t exclude the cooperation we, being the leading players in the market, are destined, in the good sense. ROSATOM is open to the cooperation not only in frames of partnerships for nuclear power development, but also to the cooperation in nuclear medicine and the use of radiation technologies in other spheres of economy,” Sergey Kirienko, Director General of ROSATOM, noted.

“Today’s ceremony demonstrates the shared desire of our groups to develop a closer cooperation on dedicated fields such as recycling or maintenance activities. As leading players in the nuclear industry, AREVA and ROSATOM both aim to ensure the highest level of safety for the products and services we offer to our customers,” President and Chief Executive Officer of AREVA Luc Oursel said.