First approvals are expected soon in 2011

Despite the uncertainties on the place of nuclear power in the energy policy of Barack Obama, Areva have no doubt that the revival of the atom will arrive in the United States and that it will play an important role. "We are resolutely optimistic," said Jacques Besnainou, President of the American subsidiary of the French champion. The new American President "is safe, because it grew out of an anti-nuclear party, but he is realistic." "History of Areva in the United States is only at its beginning."

All do not share this optimism. The country, just to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the accident of Three Miles Island, remains skeptical to this energy source. Not a single new project was launched from the event, which however did not victim. And even if the American public is largely for nuclear power, political and economic decision makers are cautious.

The signals sent by the new administration are difficult to decipher. The first decision of Barack Obama energy translated in the stimulus package on February 5 focused on renewable energy, smart grid and energy efficiency. Not a word on nuclear power. And last month, the administration has reduced by half the budget of the centre of Yucca Mountain storage.

Clarify the issue of waste

Before his inauguration, Barack Obama said however that nuclear power would be part of the U.S. energy mix. For its part, the Energy Secretary Steven Chu co-authored last August a report centred on "the role of nuclear energy". Attention: first to clarify the issue of waste more going forward. "No political conviction seems still forged", stated Didier Kechemair, Deputy Director of international relations of the CEA in March.

Pressures abound. According to him, if the country continues to advance its electricity consumption by 1 per year, and it must maintain a 20 share of nuclear in its production of electricity, it must build a quarantine of new nuclear reactors by 2030. And Jacques Besnainou, if Barack Obama legislates on CO2 emission allowances, as it has to do, "the only way out is to allow the construction of new power plants.

For suppliers, such as Areva, but Toshiba Westinghouse or GE Hitachi, the policies of the Government will be decisive. In addition to the issue of waste, it must decide two questions. First, what criteria and which grant 18 billions of dollars of put loan guarantee in place in 2005 by the Bush administration Secondly, should we expand or these guarantees Industrialists feel need of about $ 100 billion.

Electricians 15 filed 25 applications for construction of new reactors. First approvals are expected soon in 2011. Constellation, the partner of Areva and EDF, is part of the candidates. If the Government should adopt a gradual approach by simply only 2 or 4 plants in a first step, the EPR would be well placed, according to a source close to Areva.

While the crisis threatens the financing of such projects of approximately EUR 5 billion each and that the American electricians are still traumatized by the slipping time and cost of power plants built in the 1970s, all do not have the same motivation. Ameren, in Missouri, recognizes not wanting to be part of the first wave. For its part, Progress Energy, Florida, just introduce a surcharge of 14.5 dollars per month to customers to finance the construction of two reactors.