ID :
172285
Thu, 03/31/2011 - 18:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/172285
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French nuke firm Areva vows to support Japan in tackling crisis
TOKYO (Kyodo) - The visiting chief of French nuclear fuel company Areva SA vowed Thursday that her firm will offer necessary expertise and personnel to help Japan resolve the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi atomic power station triggered by the March 11 devastating quake and tsunami.
Anne Lauvergeon, chief executive officer of Areva, told Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda that her company recognizes the Fukushima nuclear emergency as its own, according to a Japanese official. Their meeting was partially open to the media.
The CEO said at a press conference later in the day that Areva plans to soon send about 20 more experts to Japan, in addition to two who are currently assisting the Fukushima plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. in dealing with the contingency.
The Areva experts heading to Japan include those specializing in the disposal of radioactive water and spent nuclear fuel, Lauvergeon said.
Areva is a manufacturer of uranium-plutonium mixed-oxide fuel, or MOX, which was used at the No. 3 reactor of the Daiichi power station.
Kaieda thanked Lauvergeon for Areva's donation of items such as radiation protective suits and masks and expressed hope that the French firm, which was involved in managing the 1979 Three Mile Island accident and the 1986 Chernobyl crisis, can support Tokyo to resolve ''the unprecedented'' disaster.
Areva has so far sent to Japan 10,000 radiation protective suits, 3,000 masks and 20,000 sets of gloves for nuclear workers, as well as two radiation monitoring vehicles, the Japanese official said.
Kaieda especially sought Areva's technical support to facilitate restoration work at the reactor buildings, where high-level radiation is hindering progress. Lauvergeon said at the press conference that the major fuel supplier has expertise in the nuclear fuel cycle process and can advise Japan on how to examine conditions at the plant.
Describing the current crisis as ''the complicated problem never experienced by humans,'' the CEO said the situation is ''very serious'' and that it is expected to take time for the contingency to be brought under control.
Lauvergeon said the Fukushima emergency has ''shocked'' the world's nuclear industry and triggered waves of antinuclear campaigning, but that she believes nuclear power will not be abandoned as it has an advantage of stably generating power in relatively small spaces without emitting much carbon dioxide over a long term.
''There will be movements to enhance security and safety of the nuclear plants in every part of the world, but I think the nuclear energy policy will not change at all,'' she said, adding that she believes the nuclear power generation system is ''economical.''
The CEO's visit coincided with French President Nicolas Sarkozy's trip to Tokyo for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Thursday. Sarkozy was accompanied by French ecology minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet as well as top French government officials in charge of nuclear power.
Anne Lauvergeon, chief executive officer of Areva, told Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda that her company recognizes the Fukushima nuclear emergency as its own, according to a Japanese official. Their meeting was partially open to the media.
The CEO said at a press conference later in the day that Areva plans to soon send about 20 more experts to Japan, in addition to two who are currently assisting the Fukushima plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. in dealing with the contingency.
The Areva experts heading to Japan include those specializing in the disposal of radioactive water and spent nuclear fuel, Lauvergeon said.
Areva is a manufacturer of uranium-plutonium mixed-oxide fuel, or MOX, which was used at the No. 3 reactor of the Daiichi power station.
Kaieda thanked Lauvergeon for Areva's donation of items such as radiation protective suits and masks and expressed hope that the French firm, which was involved in managing the 1979 Three Mile Island accident and the 1986 Chernobyl crisis, can support Tokyo to resolve ''the unprecedented'' disaster.
Areva has so far sent to Japan 10,000 radiation protective suits, 3,000 masks and 20,000 sets of gloves for nuclear workers, as well as two radiation monitoring vehicles, the Japanese official said.
Kaieda especially sought Areva's technical support to facilitate restoration work at the reactor buildings, where high-level radiation is hindering progress. Lauvergeon said at the press conference that the major fuel supplier has expertise in the nuclear fuel cycle process and can advise Japan on how to examine conditions at the plant.
Describing the current crisis as ''the complicated problem never experienced by humans,'' the CEO said the situation is ''very serious'' and that it is expected to take time for the contingency to be brought under control.
Lauvergeon said the Fukushima emergency has ''shocked'' the world's nuclear industry and triggered waves of antinuclear campaigning, but that she believes nuclear power will not be abandoned as it has an advantage of stably generating power in relatively small spaces without emitting much carbon dioxide over a long term.
''There will be movements to enhance security and safety of the nuclear plants in every part of the world, but I think the nuclear energy policy will not change at all,'' she said, adding that she believes the nuclear power generation system is ''economical.''
The CEO's visit coincided with French President Nicolas Sarkozy's trip to Tokyo for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Thursday. Sarkozy was accompanied by French ecology minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet as well as top French government officials in charge of nuclear power.
