France’s Areva Concludes 2-B.-Euro Deals With Japan Utilities

Paris, April 10 (Jiji Press)–Major French nuclear power generation company Areva said Thursday it has concluded contracts on nuclear fuel cycle operations worth 2 billion euros with Japanese utilities.

The news comes during a visit by French Prime Minister Francois Fillon to Japan to boost cooperation in the nuclear energy field between the two countries. Anne Lauvergeon, Areva’s chief executive officer, is accompanying the prime minister.

The Japanese utilities include Tokyo Electric Power Co. , Kansai Electric Power Co. , Shikoku Electric Power Co. and Japan Atomic Power Co., French newspaper Les Echos reported online.

Another French newspaper, La Tribune, said in its online edition that Areva has concluded separate contracts with its Japanese partners.

Areva said in a statement that “the contracts cover services in the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle such as uranium supplies, conversion and enrichment.” The longest contract will last for 15 years, the company said.

Areva’s revenues in Japan totaled 575 million euros in 2007, it said.

According to Les Echos, Areva is expected to soon conclude a contract with Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. group on fuel supply to China.END

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