AREVA wants your point of view!

Most popular questions

1. I am interested in knowing the guidelines of your environmental policy in Niger.

   Answer

   Hello,
   First, I think that it is important to remember that AREVA is fully aware of its social and environmental responsibilities. The environmental policy of the AREVA Group is also implemented in Niger. This is the reason why the Mining Business Group laid down a determined and ambitious policy in this field in all the countries where it is present and for all its activities. It is based on four pillars: the strengthening of environmental management, risk prevention, the reduction of our environmental footprint and substantial investment in R&D.
   AREVA regularly conducts or commissions audits and internal inspections of safety and environmental protection on its sites in Niger. Hundreds of measures are taken every year as part of a precise environmental monitoring program. This program covers water, the air, the food chain, the soil and the health of our employees and neighboring populations. Our action plan for environmental surveillance is regularly revised.
   The two SOMAIR and COMINAK production sites are ISO 14001 certified (sustainable management of their environments) by the AFAQ (French Quality Assurance Agency) in 2003. This initiative includes an annual verification audit of each site and an audit to renew the certification every 3 years. Both of our subsidiaries publish an annual Environmental and Societal report. Moreover, the group also called on the IRSN, a French agency specialized in safety and radiation protection, for a number of environmental surveillance studies in 2004 and 2005. And in November 2009, AREVA opened up its facilities to Greenpeace International for a 3-day visit, during which numerous documents were handed over.

2. Are the work-related accidents or the deaths of under-paid or exploited Nigerian miners in uranium mines covered by the risks that you manage?

   Answer

   Hello,
   Safety at work is a top priority for AREVA, which strives to limit occupational accidents on its sites throughout the world to a strict minimum. This applies to the safety standards in AREVA's mines in Niger, which are identical to the standards in force in the group’s mines in Canada, Kazakhstan and, in the past, in France.
   The number of accidents, also known as the accident frequency rate*, in AREVA’s subsidiaries in Niger is almost 12 times lower the average rate in French industry. In around 15 years, the accident frequency rate has dropped from more than 50 to less than 3 (an average of 2.1 for the two companies in 2009, compared with an average of 26 in French industry). Between 2006 and 2008, SOMAIR succeeded in achieving an accident frequency rate of zero for 26 consecutive months, a performance that is unparalleled in uranium mines on the continent.
   
   *The accident frequency rate includes the number of accidents, requiring more than one day off work, that occur during a period of 12 months per million hours worked.

3. The extraction of uranium in Arlit, Niger has resulted in the pollution of the water table in a region where “water is life”, and in various radioactive pollutions that harm the local Touareg population, that is currently trapped in a huge shanty town next to Arlit. This situation is one of the causes of the Touareg uprising in this region. What is AREVA’s position? Is a sustainable development policy still possible to repair the harm that has been done in this region?

   Answer

   Hello,
   AREVA is a responsible company that pays close attention to the environmental impact of its activities. In fact, SOMAIR and COMINAK are the only environmentally certified companies in Niger. Both production sites were ISO 14001 certified (sustainable management of their environments) by the AFAQ (French Quality Assurance Agency) in 2003. This initiative includes an annual verification audit of each site and an audit to renew the certification every 3 years. Both our subsidiaries also publish an annual Environmental and Societal report. The Group also called on the IRSN, the French state agency for security and radioprotection, to conduct a number of surveys of environmental surveillance in 2004 and 2005.
   You raised the question of the possible pollution of the water table. Samples are regularly taken to make sure that international standards are met and internal and external checks made by the IRSN and the Niger state have shown that the mains water is drinkable.
   Furthermore, AREVA has decided to set up a Health Observatory with SHERPA and Médecins Du Monde to monitor the health of populations neighboring the sites and to check the health of former employees, once they have retired.
   In keeping with its sustainable development and continuous progress policies, our group spares no effort in implementing determined and responsible policies to limit the impact of its mining activities.

4. About two years ago I read a short announcement of a research project to be positioned in France on the development of fusion reactors. Is Areva apart of this research?
   Also, yesterday I saw an interview of Anne Lauvergeon on the Charlie Rose program. She is a great Ambassador for Areva and her passion for the work you do is engaging. Would she and you agree that fusion is the future of the industry and power generation?
   Thank you.

   Answer

   Hello.
   You probably mean the ITER project, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, under construction in south east France. It is the largest international fusion project under way with implications of about 15 countries. Numerous companies from the world all over are involved in this project. AREVA is taking part in the study of some major components such as the vacuum vessel or the plasma facing components for example.
   Concerning fusion as the future of the industry, it is still far too early to tell, as fusion has yet never been achieved in a controlled manner. One of the goals of ITER is actually to check whether this can be achieved. But, even if this key point is achieved, we will still be far from an electricity producing prototype. The technological challenges of fusion are immense, particularly for the materials which are submitted to very intense heat and neutron fluxes. This damages them and shortens their lifetime. How much? Still difficult to tell but obviously if their lifetime is as short as a couple of years it would be economically unacceptable since this type of reactor is very expensive. Until ITER operation brings back preliminary operating experience, it will not be possible to answer the question about fusion future. In any case, assuming all the daunting difficulties can be overcome, electricity producing plants based on fusion reactors will not come to the market before decades, probably not before the next century.
   Yves Fanjas and Michel Lecomte

5. If yes, how long would that take? If no, what are the differences between the reactor at Olkiluoto and the one at Flamanville? Please respond in simple language.

   Answer

   Hello,
   AREVA has developed a standard EPR™ reactor model designed to be able to use MOX fuel quickly once it has entered service.
   Depending on their needs and regulatory requirements, our electricity provider customers can choose the MOX option, defining particular conditions for its use (management of the MOX fuel subject to its availability).
   The Flamanville 3 plant construction licence allows for the usage of MOX in its fuel assemblies.
   Eventually, the EPR™ reactor will have the capacity to be fueled with 100% MOX, dependent on customer wants, and the National nuclear regulator’s approval for its usage on the project concerned.

6. Reactors with a capacity of about 50 MWe are now developed (Nuscale, Hyperion, Babcok, Toshiba and many more). They have a number of advantages in terms of cost, ease of installation and maintenance, clustering, etc. Is AREVA (Technicatome, etc.) making any developments in this field and what is your position regarding mini-reactors?

   Answer

   Hello,
   AREVA has not entered the mini-nuclear reactor market for a variety of reasons. The first is historical, namely that today the group aims to capitalize on the expertise it has acquired during the construction of its 87 PWR (pressurized water reactors) around the world over the last few decades.
   Then there is a question of competitiveness. When the installed generating capacity power is more substantial, the specific cost (cost per installed KWe) is optimized. This means our electricity customers can produce cheaper electricity. To respond to its clients’ needs, therefore, AREVA has developed not only the EPR™ reactor (1600 MWe), but the 1100MWe ATMEA1™ reactor with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, and the 1250 MWe KERENA™ BWR (boiling water reactor) in cooperation with E.ON.
   The market for small reactors remains a “niche” market, and in the current climate it is not significant enough for AREVA to pursue with interest.
   In parallel to this development, we are continuing to invest in research reactors, through the Propulsion and research reactors Business Unit (formerly AREVA TA).