In an interview given to Ebra group titles, Emmanuel Macron announced that EDF would take over, this Friday, May 31, the nuclear activities of General Electric, including the maintenance and manufacturing activities of Arabelle turbines, which equip French nuclear power plants. . “The agreements concluded ensure the sustainability of this activity which is a real Source of French pride”, rejoiced the President of the Republic. The amount of the operation was not communicated. The scope covers the conventional island of nuclear power plants (for electricity generation and circuit cooling) excluding service activities located on the American continent.
This is the epilogue of a series that began in 2022, when Emmanuel Macron announced the principle of this operation. An “exclusivity agreement” was to allow the French energy company to take over GE Steam Power, the nuclear branch of the American conglomerate (formerly Alstom), as part of a new French nuclear roadmap. The construction of six new EPR2s and the cancellation of the closure of 12 reactors was confirmed at the same time. Arabelle steam turbines are a key element of the EPR, EPR2 and SMR.
To accommodate this acquisition, EDF is creating a new subsidiary, Arabelle Solutions, whose chairman of the board of directors will be Bernard Fontana, president of Framatome. “This new subsidiary will allow us to deploy technologies and maintenance services which are key, both for EDF and for other nuclear operators, in France and internationally. The acquisition supports the relaunch of the construction of nuclear reactors, which Europe needs for its decarbonization and energy sovereignty, with a fully autonomous European industrial sector.»indicates Luc Rémont, CEO of EDF.
2,500 people affected in France
In the meantime, the sale of GE Steam Power has been repeatedly postponed. Latest episode, the cancellation at the last minute of the operation, in December 2023, a few hours before the official announcement. The effects of American sanctions against Russia decided in the context of the war in Ukraine on the order book of GE Steam Power (Geast) were particularly feared by EDF, Geast’s main client being the Russian group Rosatom.
As part of the sale of GE Steam Power to EDF, around 3,300 employees are to join the French energy company, including around 2,500 in France, including around 1,000 located in Belfort (Territoire de Belfort). The sites of La Courneuve (Seine-Saint-Denis), Boulogne-Billancourt (Hauts-de-Seine), Rugby (United Kingdom) and Sanand (India) are particularly concerned.
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