Nuclear Revival Here To Stay', Paris Conference Told
Written by NucNet
Monday, 07 September 2009
The worldwide nuclear energy revival is "here to stay", the head of France's Areva group told the opening day of an international conference in Paris today.
Chief executive officer Anne Lauvergeon said that nuclear had become the pillar of global energy development, together with renewables.
Ms Lauvergeon told the Global 2009* conference that worldwide energy demand would increase by 50 percent by 2030, by which time as many new reactor units would be needed as are in the world's existing fleet.
"Areva wants to supply a third of the new reactors and to have a leadership role in lifetime extensions and power uprates," she said.
Ms Lauvergeon also stressed the importance of attracting the nuclear professionals of the future to the industry. Areva expected to recruit around 12,000 to the group this year, she added.
*Global 2009, which is being held in conjunction with the Top Fuel Water Reactor Fuel Performance meeting, continues until 11 September. Details are on the French Nuclear Energy Society website.
