A set of data sent by clumsiness, a somewhat zealous engineer, journalists quick to ignite at the slightest mention of the words “nuclear” and “leak” in the same report. A global controversy is finally holding out for little … Two weeks after the global outcry aroused by CNN’s revelations about EPR reactor No. 1 at the Taishan nuclear power plant and the leak of 5 fuel rod sheaths containing the Uranium pellets – a rare phenomenon, but without consequences for safety – the dust from the event has now settled. But it has left its mark, notably within EDF. Neither operator nor producer of the incriminated fuel, the French electrician was nevertheless obliged to descend into the arena to wash the honor of his own EPR technology, decidedly cursed. Above all, this incident brought the difficult relations between EDF and CGN, the Chinese operator of Taishan, in the public arena. So many blows that the French group owes, for the most part, to its American cousin.
At the origin of the case, there is certainly a blunder on the French side, for which Framatome is fully responsible. Producer of fuel and present on the Taishan site, this EDF subsidiary sent to its American division, a few weeks ago, data betraying the sealing problem of certain rods, as revealed Le Figaro. Problem, the American engineers of the French group could not work on this subject without referring it to the American Department of Energy (DoE), because the plant operator, CGN, is blacklisted in the United States. One of them, at the end of May, therefore spoke of “an imminent radiological threat” to make himself heard. The opportunity to tap Beijing and EPR tech was too good for the Biden administration, who waited for the G7 to play that three-cushion billiard shot, which allowed it to enjoy maximum exposure. “Economic diplomacy is not just the signing of treaties. In this type of business, anything goes,” said Emmanuel Autier, energy expert at BearingPoint.
Back to business
It prevents. In the French camp, some were surprised by the interventionism of the Americans. “They come back in force on the subject and do not hesitate to type where it hurts”, decrypts a person close to the file. Charles Merlin, former adviser at the French Embassy in Washington, on a mission for the Atomic Energy Commission on site until last March, has observed this return to American affairs for two years. He considers that “the sector has benefited from an unprecedented boost since the accident at the Three Mile Island (Pennsylvania) power plant in 1979”. This new dynamic was driven by the Trump administration. Convinced of the need for a strong nuclear power to conduct its policy of “energy domination”, the former tenant of the White House demanded in 2017 a complete health check of the sector to his administration and voted several laws of support . Insufficient, in reality. In April 2020, the DoE published a report with scathing conclusions on the state of the industry: “The United States has ceded its global leadership to state-owned enterprises of countries, such as China and Russia. […]. After years of neglect, the entire commercial nuclear industry, from mining to power generation, is on the verge of bankruptcy. ”
Limited offer. 2 months for 1 € without commitment
–
To reinstate the United States on the world throne, the DoE then envisaged three levers: revitalization of the fuel industry, acceleration in research and development and conquest of markets dominated by Chinese and Russian players. This strategy still had to survive Trumpism. Far from giving it up, Joe Biden has driven the point home. Since his inauguration, the Democrat has increased the support for the sector, given his role in the fight against global warming. “There is a political consensus on this subject, the scale of which is unprecedented”, underlines Valérie Faudon, general delegate of the French nuclear energy company. In 2021, for example, the Office of Nuclear Energy will benefit from record credits – 1.85 billion euros -, a large part of which will support research and a booming start-up sector, especially on small reactors. modular.
L’export indispensable
The fact remains that to influence the world stage, nothing beats the construction of reactors. However, with the exception of two units on national territory, the United States have absent subscribers. Rosatom claims an order book of 138 billion dollars for 35 reactor projects. As for China, it is pushing the fires internally for the moment, but hopes to accelerate internationally with its Hualong. “The Chinese are particularly active, confirms Emmanuel Autier. They will have a serial effect in construction at the local level which will allow them to quickly reach levels of profitability for exporting.”
The Americans want to get back into the game. For several months, the shadow of Uncle Sam has been spreading in Central and Eastern Europe, one of the most dynamic territories. “Over the last four months in office, the Trump administration has organized a host of events in European countries with visits by officials of the DoE and the State Department to Slovenia or Ukraine, signing of pre-agreements with Romania, Poland or Bulgaria “, details Charles Merlin. But the main high power reactor – the AP1000 of the Westinghouse company – can it overshadow its competitors? In Poland where France wants to sell several EPRs, or in the Czech Republic which has launched a call for tenders for a reactor, the French industry is battling with the Americans. “You have to keep a cool head. If we stick to the techno-economic criteria, they are unable to align with our proposals, “wants to believe a good connoisseur of French nuclear power. To hear him, there are many flaws on the American side: no reactor in construction abroad, no industrial player capable of managing manufacturing and then operation, supply chains located only on the American continent and much smaller commitments on technology transfers and training.
Aware of Westinghouse’s weaknesses, the Americans could nevertheless bet on a collaboration with the Korean Kepco and its APR-1400 technology to stay in the game, notes Charles Merlin. An observation that does not fall from the sky. On May 21, the two countries committed to increased collaboration, in particular through joint participation in power plant projects. “The assembly and risk sharing could be interesting. The APR-1400 could be a flagship product for export in the next ten years. This would leave time for the Americans to prepare for the wave of small modular reactors, with which they expect to arrive en masse between 2027 and 2030 “, judges the expert.
Diplomatic war machine
Above all, the United States leans on the weight of its diplomatic war machine. “We must not neglect this aspect, they are formidable in the matter”, insists Emmanuel Autier. A nuclear diplomat confirms: “With the targeted countries, they will offer increased collaborations under the aegis of NATO or commercial offers presenting nuclear and liquefied natural gas, as in Poland”. In the former USSR countries, and elsewhere, the argument hits the mark. Coincidence or not, the Russians of Rosatom have just been excluded from the call for tenders for the construction of a power plant in the Czech Republic, against the backdrop of Russian involvement in the explosion of a fuel depot. weapons in Vrbetice in 2014.
France nevertheless wants to be reassuring in terms of diplomacy. “We must not overvalue this aspect. This can play a role at the start, but in the long term it is not a major competitive advantage. We also know how to remind some of our partners of their membership of the European Union”, slice- do we at the Quai d’Orsay. “When we sell French nuclear, we do not sell anything else, which can be an asset,” abounds another source. Without a doubt. For all the protagonists questioned, the return to business of the Americans is not such bad news. “When you have a player of this size who essentially explains wanting to develop this technology on a massive scale, there is an obvious ripple effect for the rest of the industry,” notes Emmanuel Autier.
L’application L’Express
To follow the analysis and decryption wherever you are
–
Download the app
–
–
The fact remains that faced with this giant in full awakening, and with Russian and Chinese players with expansionist inclinations, France and its heavily indebted leader (EDF), will have a hard time resisting alone. However, like the battle around the financing of new projects (the famous taxonomy), Europe is fragmented in its response to nuclear power. Could the Americans’ return to business weld it together?
Opinions
Ultimatum
Be confident
Chronic
Digital
–
