Sunday 25 May 2014

The UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is pleased today to announce the signing of three agreements with key French organisations – AREVA, the Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA) and EDF. Today’s announcement comes as the Prime Minister met with President Hollande for the 2014 UK-France Summit in Oxfordshire.

These agreements deepen and strengthen the co-operation and close working which already exists between the UK and France on existing and advanced reactors and the development of fuel cycle technologies in support of energy and climate objectives. Details of the individual agreements are as follows:

NNL / AREVAThrough a letter of intent, both organisations will work more closely together on developing nuclear fuel cycle technology, building on NNL’s involvement in the UK’s Nuclear Fuel Centre of Excellence. They will also collectively look at technologies to enhance existing plant lifetime.

NNL / CEAThrough a letter of intent, the two organisations will build on an existing MoU to enhance cooperation on advanced fuel and reactor technologies, particularly with regards to the ASTRID fast reactor.

NNL / EDFEDF is keen to strengthen its existing collaboration with NNL and to develop a strategic alliance on R&D to benefit from the scientific excellence of this organisation. EDF Energy will also expand its collaboration with NNL to include research, education and training for nuclear energy with a particular focus on the new build programme.

Commenting today, NNL Managing Director Professor Paul Howarth said:”The UK and France both have long and impressive track records in the development and use of nuclear energy, and both have extensive histories of research and innovation all across the nuclear fuel cycle. We are delighted today to announce these agreements which strengthen NNL’s relationships with the three biggest nuclear organisations in France. I, and my colleagues in NNL, are looking forward to working with AREVA, CEA and EDF on a range of topics as these collaborations bear fruit.”

Notes for Editors

• The UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is a company owned by the UK Government.  It operates as a commercial business and currently receives no direct grant funding from Government.
• NNL has over 10,000 person-years of nuclear industry experience across the whole nuclear fuel cycle. 
• NNL provides the experts and technologies to ensure the UK nuclear industry operates safely and cost effectively today and for the future.  The company has also provided support and services to the UK and other Governments and to the European Union.
• NNL has facilities at Sellafield and Workington in Cumbria, Preston in Lancashire, Risley in Cheshire, Stonehouse in Gloucestershire and Harwell in Oxfordshire.
• For more information visit www.nnl.co.uk, or follow NNL on Twitter (@UKNNL).

 For more information, contact:

Adrian Bull 

Director of External RelationsNational Nuclear Laboratory+44 (0) 7894 836553adrian.j.bull@nnl.co.uk