Enrichment: AREVA signs long-term contract with CEZ

Czech power utility (CEZ) and AREVA signed a major 15-year uranium enrichment services contract for the Temelin nuclear power plant (units 1 and 2).

This agreement will contribute to securing CEZ’s long-term nuclear fuel supply and will also reinforce AREVA’s position on the European enrichment services market.

Furthermore, this recent contract further increases the substantial order book for AREVA’s future Georges Besse II enrichment plant, located on the Tricastin site (France).

CEZ stands among the major European energy producers, operating a fleet of six nuclear reactors (on the sites of Dukovany and Temelin) which provide 31 percent of the Czech Republic’s electricity generation.

The Czech utility has recently mentioned its intent to increase its fleet of nuclear reactors, with the construction of two new units during the next decade.

CEZ declared: "We consider the execution of the future EUP deliveries (Enriched Uranium Product) as a new challenge which will require a very close co-operation with AREVA. This contract is a very important part of our long-term diversification of supply strategy."

"We are very pleased to renew our collaboration with a Central European Utility. This success is a sign of the confidence placed by our Czech customer in AREVA’s know-how and reliability", said François-Xavier Rouxel, Executive President of AREVA’s Enrichment business unit.