AREVA

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AREVA (Euronext: CEI) is a France-based multinational industrial conglomerate that deals in energy, especially in nuclear power. The parent company is incorporated under French law as a société anonyme (public corporation).

AREVA offers technological solution for CO₂ free energy. It is the only company with a presence in each industrial activity linked to nuclear energy: mining; chemistry; enrichment; combustible; services; engineering; nuclear propulsion and reactors; treatment; recycling; stabilization and dismantling.

Three companies form the core of AREVA:

AREVA NP (formerly Framatome ANP) - Nuclear Power: develops and builds nuclear reactors; Siemens has a 34% stake in AREVA NP
AREVA NC (formerly Cogema) - Nuclear Cycle: covers the whole nuclear fuel cycle, from mining to waste disposal
AREVA T&D: Transmission and Distribution: power transmission and distribution

These are major partners of AREVA: Technicatome, Euriware, STMicroelectronics, Eramet, SAFRAN.

The AREVA Tower located in Europe's largest CBD, La Défense

Businesswoman Anne Lauvergeon is Chairman of the Executive Board; this is analogous to President and CEO. However, her actions are subject to considerable oversight by both the board of directors and the supervisory board. In 2006, Spencer Abraham, former secretary of Energy, was named director of AREVA Inc., the US subsidiary of AREVA ^[1].

Worldwide, the AREVA group has an industrial presence in 40 countries and its commercial network reaches more than 100 countries. It employs 58,000 people for a consolidated sales revenue of €10.863 billion.^[2] In 2006, Fortune Magazine reported that AREVA was the Most Admired Global Energy Company.^[3]

In the USA, AREVA is present in 40 locations across 20 states and employs 5,000 people. Areva supplies network products to two-thirds of all US utilities. Moreover, AREVA was ranked No 1 US supplier in nuclear energy products and services , in Energy Management System and in Energy Market System. Its US headquarters are in Bethesda, MD.

In October 2005, AREVA sold FCI (electrical and electronic interconnects) to Bain Capital.

On September 15, 2005 AREVA and Constellation Energy of Baltimore announced a new joint venture, called UniStar Nuclear, that will market the commercial U.S. EPR (Evolutionary Power Reactor).

AREVA has gained some fame after airing 3,000 cel-shaded animation television ad spots on over 32 international channels, including CNN. The ads explained how the generation and distribution of nuclear power works. The ads showcased the 1980s music of Funkytown.

AREVA owns two mines in Arlit, Niger, where it employs 1,600 persons; Niger is one of the world's three largest uranium exporters. The population of Niger was exposed to serious famine in 2005. Areva therefore gave 130,000 euros in June 2005 to the alimentary crisis coordination group of Niger, and 120,000 euros in July in the form of two planes loaded with food and set up by Bernard Kouchner's Réussir NGO. According to Le Canard Enchaîné, this aid amounts to 0.05% of AREVA's annual profits of 428 million euros. ^[4].

AREVA is since 2005 constructing Finland's fifth reactor in Olkiluoto. The reactor, which is one of the first of the new EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) nuclear reactor, was supposed to produce electricity in 2009, but the project has been delayed because of technical difficulties and quality problems. The production start is now estimated to 2010-2011. The new plant costs 3 billion euros.

AREVA has partnered with engineering contractors to aid in the reconstruction of Iraq by manufacturing equipment to construct electrical substations.^[5]