N-reactor builders fret about loss of business
Takeshi Kurihara, Kensuke Nakazawa and Taro Koyano / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers
U.S. and European nuclear reactor builders increasingly are concerned about the situation at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant because a prolonged crisis could force countries worldwide to change their policies on nuclear power and eventually deal a heavy blow to their business.
Apparently stemming from this concern, visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Areva SA, a French major nuclear reactor maker, on Thursday announced support for Japan's response to the series of accidents at the nuclear power plant following the massive quake and tsunami.
During talks with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda in Tokyo, Anne Lauvergeon, chief executive officer of Areva, said she recognized that the problems at the Tokyo Electric Power Co. nuclear plant are not only Japan's but her company's as well. She said Areva would provide maximum support to Japan.
Areva, which has tie-ups with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and has won many contracts to build nuclear power plants in France, where nuclear power is the primary source of electricity, agreed with Chinese companies in November and December to supply them with uranium. The company also recently signed a deal with India to manufacture nuclear reactors...
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110401004670.htmYesterday they went to Japan to get the PR message lined up with their business interests. Today coverage of the reactor issue on NHK dropped to a level approaching the US after the invasion of Libya so effectively removed it from the news cycle.