France supports Algeria to construct third generation nuclear power plants

Thứ năm, 12/6/2008 | 00:00 GMT+7
Algeria and France will sign a frame agreement to cooperate in the field of civil nuclear on the occasion that French Prime Minister Fransoois Fillon pays a visit to Algeria from 20th to 21st in next June. Accordingly, France will finance and transfer to Algeria both techniques and technology of the field.

Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant - France

Jeune-Independent daily news (Algeria) on June 2nd asserted that this would be the first time that France signed an important agreement with Algeria in the area of civil nuclear. This agreement will consist of phases ranging from research, production, human resource training to development and exploitation of uranium mines in Algeria. It will also mention practical applications such as producing electricity by nuclear power plants or using nuclear energy in agriculture.
However, experts reckon that this is an outcome of an exchange between France and Algeria. French party will support Algeria to construct the third generation nuclear power plants (EPR), in returns, Algerian party will supply gasoline for France in a long term with a price that is lower that world market price.
As from diplomatic news, the construction of nuclear power plants in Algeria will be assigned to Areva, the leading nuclear corporation in France. This corporation has just open its representative office in Algeria and will open new branches in this country in the next coming time to execute activities in Africa and Middle East.
While France has agreed to signed with Algeria a frame agreement on civil nuclear, some other nations and international organizations, including the United States, Britain and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), disapprove the idea of transferring nuclear technology for the aim of peace.
Additionally, some chief counterparts of Algeria have shown their willing to help this country to obtain nuclear technology. Among those, there are South Africa and Iran that have just trained numerous Algerian specialists in the field of nuclear. Iran has revealed that it will unreluctantly participate in nuclear activities for the aim of peace in Algeria.
Algeria currently owns two experimental nuclear piles which have been operated since 1995. These nuclear piles are under the supervision of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Theo: Mai Phuong