French owned Areva is one of the largest nuclear corporations in the world. Areva has mined uranium in Saskatchewan, together with Canadian owned nuclear giant Cameco, for decades. Areva is bidding on new nuclear reactor projects in Ontario, and is interested in building a nuclear reactor in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The nuclear reactor being built by Areva in Finland is plagued with problems. Areva CEO in Canada, Armand Laferrere, sat on the Uranium Development Partnership.
France imports UK electricity as plants shut by Robin Pagnamenta, Energy and Environment Editor, The Times (July 3, 2009). France is being forced to import electricity from Britain to cope with a summer heatwave that has helped to put a third of its nuclear power stations out of action. Similar heatwaves caused problems for French nuclear power stations in 2003.
In Finland, Nuclear Renaissance Runs Into Trouble by James Kanter, New York Times (May 28, 2009). The massive power plant under construction on muddy terrain on this Finnish island was supposed to be the showpiece of a nuclear renaissance. But things have not gone as planned.
Areva blogger reacts to the New York Times article...Nuclear Renaissance Is Just Fine, Thank You by Jarret Adams (May 29, 2009)
Radiation Authority Sees Serious Safety Problems at Nuclear Building Site. (May 5, 2009)
The Finnish Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority STUK says that the construction of the Areva owned commercial nuclear reactor in Olkiluoto has not proceeded according to official requirements. To read more about Areva's problems in Finland, click here.
French firm defends reactor cost overruns, Ontario will benefit from company's experience in Finland: Areva Canada by Kate Jaimet of the Ottawa Citizen, March 31, 2009. Areva's current reactor construction project in Finland is already 3.3 billion dollars over budget, and 3 years behind schedule. The Finnish utility is seeking 3.9 billion in compensation for setbacks from Areva.
Nuclear Power in France; Beyond the Myth - By Mycle Schneider, International Consultant on Energy and Nuclear Policy December 2008
Nuclear Power and France: Setting the Record Straight This article explores issues such as proliferation, nuclear waste reprocessing (or what Areva calls recycling), costs to French taxpayers, public opinion about nuclear power & the failure of nuclear power during the 2006 heat wave in France. This article also contains many other references for further research. Download a pamphlet.
The French Nuclear Industry Is Bad Enough in France This article examines problems such as radioactive waste reprocessing, spills and construction cost overruns with Areva's Finnish reactor.