“Rosenergoatom and EDF are two largest companies in Europe who have many years of experience in operation of NPPs. Our cooperation that has lasted for 20 years and will continue is supported by objectively genuine interest shown by both companies,” Oleg Chernikov, the First Deputy Director for Productions and NPP Operation at Rosenergoatom, noted. “We have what to share and to discuss. For example, we jointly solve the current issues related to the well-known problem of graphite reactors. There are also areas related to the human resources policy, radioactive material management policy. Now we consider broadening of the cooperation, including in the entire lifecycle of NPPs, embracing decommissioning. And this is just part of our cooperation, which objective is exchange of experience in safe and efficient operation of our plants.” He said fast neutron reactors played a special part in the bilateral cooperation. “Not all companies have experience in operating fast neutron reactors but we have. We see the perspectives in this area and, as a consequence, opportunities for the further work,” Chernikov says.
“We hope that we will have a fast neutron reactor with the complete fuel cycle as in Russia,” Noël Camarcat, Special Advisor for Nuclear R&D and International Issues at EDF’s Production and Engineering Directorate and Co-chairman of the REA-EDF Coordinating Committee, says. “Russia is ahead of us here. You have BN-800, we have the governmental project on building the reactor ASTRID, which we hope to start up not earlier than 2025. So you have the 20-year handicap,” he says.
The parties have already identified nine areas of the cooperation for 2015. They include operation; engineering and support of operation; new projects; fast neutron reactors; inspections and control; personnel training; procurement; civil liability for nuclear damage and insurance; general organization and development. In addition, the parties agreed to put two new areas on the program, such as “research and development” and “decommissioning and waste management”.
Neither political situation can hinder the joint work of the two companies. “We are not a political organization; our objective is to share experience to make our plants safe and efficient,” Chernikov says.
The Special Advisor for Nuclear R&D and International Issues at EDF confirms his words: “We cooperate in nuclear power. This is the area, which shouldn’t suffer any sanctions; so we work at the same level as before. Nothing has changed in our relations,” he says. “The sanctions have nothing to do with nuclear power. I come to Russia each two months,” Camarcat notes.
A protocol on prolongation of the existing agreement and broadening the cooperation areas was signed based on the meeting results. Yevgeny Romanov, the Head of Rosenergoatom, handed out awards. Noël Camarcat, the Co-Chairman of the Coordinating Committee REA-EDF and head of the fast neutron reactors area was awarded with a Rosenergoatom’s golden medal “For Merits in Improving Safety of Nuclear Power Plants”. Bernard Roche (Co-Chairman of the Coordinating Committee REA-EDF from 2001 until 2007) was given a ROSATOM’s medal “60 Years of Nuclear Power”. The awards were given for a significant contribution to the development of nuclear science, power generation and industry, the strengthening of the cooperation and interaction, the support of successful execution of works in the field of the use of atomic energy.
