France begins 'strategic reflection' on future of nuclear sector, presidential spokesman says
The Associated Press
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
PARIS: France has begun a "strategic reflection" on the future of its nuclear power sector, the spokesman for President Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday.
French business daily Les Echos reported that the president's office had commissioned consulting firm McKinsey, bank HSBC and a division of the Finance Ministry that reviews deals involving public assets to look into the future of state-run nuclear group Areva.
Presidential spokesman David Martinon did not specifically refer to Areva while speaking to reporters, but said France had begun a "long-term strategic reflection" over the nuclear sector.
The French government owns 87 percent of Areva.
Les Echos said Areva could be merged with French private-sector engineering and transportation firm Alstom, be combined with Germany's Siemens or floated as a stand-alone company.
France's Atomic Energy Commission, which controls Areva, sent a report to the presidential palace over the summer, laying out the three scenarios, a commission official confirmed to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The official declined to comment further, but confirmed the report in Les Echos. The ultimate decision would be up to the presidential palace, the official said.