Framatome and Rosatom expand cooperation

The new strategic cooperation agreement was signed by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachov and Framatome CEO Bernard Fontana during the World Nuclear Exhibition held in Paris this week.

"By working closely with our industrial partner Rosatom, we strengthen our contributions for safe and reliable generation of clean energy generated by our customers' nuclear operating plants," said Fontana. "Together, we build on our expertise for maintaining operations for the existing nuclear fleet and preparing for the next generation of nuclear energy."

Likhachov added: "Together with Framatome, we are creating a solid foundation for developing high-quality nuclear energy solutions within the scope of current and future areas for collaboration. Today, the world has finally recognised that it is impossible to achieve carbon neutrality without nuclear generation. Therefore, we must hasten our collective efforts towards achieving global decarbonisation goals."

In June 2017, on the sidelines of the IX AtomExpo International Forum in Moscow, Rosatom and Areva NP signed an MoU as well as a cooperation programme concerning key areas of mutual interest.

At that time, Rosatom said these documents were aimed at ensuring the "continuation and further improvement of long-term cooperation between Rosatom and Areva NP in the field of fuel fabrication, automated process control systems, as well as maintenance of equipment and machines for nuclear power plants."

Framatome has already supplied comprehensive safety I&C solutions to China, Russia and Slovakia for Russian-supplied VVER-type new build reactors.

In May 2018, Framatome and Rosatom subsidiary JSC Rusatom Automated Control Systems (RASU) signed an MoU to enhance their cooperation in the field of I&C. The agreement notably provided a framework for the participation of RASU and Framatome in VVER and Framatome's nuclear power plant projects in the global market, cooperation in the fields of maintenance and modernisation, training, development of nuclear infrastructure, and support for the certification of Russian equipment to ensure compliance with European and international norms and standards. The partners also planned to consider how Framatome I&C systems could be integrated into Rosatom new build projects abroad, with the possible localisation of component and system production on Rosatom sites.

In January this year, Framatome and RASU signed a contract to provide technical support in design and integration of the I&C system for Fennovoima's Hanhikivi-1 nuclear power plant project in Finland. Under the terms of the contract, Framatome will provide consulting support for I&C system integration and design in the plant construction project based on a VVER-1200 reactor. The role of RASU is to review design documentation and to be I&C technical leader and integrator for the Hanhikivi-1 plant.