[cdn-nucl-l] AREVA Group is ready to build a new nuclear reactor in Lithuania in less then 5 years

["Radik Ixanov" <ixanov@sympatico.ca>]

Posted on Nuclear.Ru (http://www.nuclear.ru/eng/news) at May 22, 2003.


If Lithuania makes a decision to implement a new nuclear reactor project,
AREVA Group is ready to build such reactor in less then 5 years as Anne
Lauvergeon, the AREVA Chair of the Board reportedly (Sugardas,
Visaginas-based web-resource) said on May 21, arrived at Vilnius to sign a
memorandum on nuclear power cooperation with the Lithuanian government.

AREVA Group is considered a world leader in design and construction of
nuclear reactors and utilization of nuclear fuel including its reprocessing
and waste management. The company’s 80% annual turnover (about 9 billion
euros) is due to the nuclear power businesses.

According to Anne Lauvergeon, Lithuania has real opportunities to get an
agreement with the EC to extend Ignalina-2 service life until a new reactor
is in place. At this, she refused to announce an estimated cost of new
reactor construction in Lithuania and possible amount of investments of
AREVA to the project, referring to the fact that the type and capacity of
reactor have not been yet determined.

Besides, Lithuania has not made a decision whether it would remain a nuclear
generating state after Ignalina NPP is closed down. Kasimira Prunskene, the
Chair of Parliamentary Commission on Ignalina site region, stated that such
decision has to be made by the end of this year. Meanwhile, May 14-th Paris
meeting between Rolandas Paksas and Jacques Chirac stated that France is
ready to cooperate with Lithuania on nuclear power and assist in
implementation of a new reactor construction project.