IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, March 2, 2009 – AREVA announced today updates in
the development of its planned Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, a project to construct a
state-of-the-art gas centrifuge enrichment plant 18 miles west of Idaho Falls, Idaho. The
company also announced the opening of an office in Idaho Falls for its subsidiary
AREVA Enrichment Services LLC, and the appointment of three key executives to its
staff.
AREVA reported that the development of the multi-billion dollar facility is ahead
of schedule. The company submitted a license application to the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) in December, three months ahead of plan. The company
also is accelerating its activities and gearing up to launch detailed design, procurement
and construction planning while the NRC reviews the license application.
“We are committed to this project and are accelerating our planning and design
activities to ensure we bring this world class facility on line in a timely manner with
minimum risk to the nuclear energy industry that is counting on Eagle Rock and its
proven technology to deliver critical supply of enrichment services,” said Sam Shakir,
President of AREVA Enrichment Services.
AREVA estimates that Eagle Rock will generate 5,000 direct and indirect jobs
during construction, operation, and in goods and services. Construction and operation of
the facility will increase the skill level of the local labor force and attract other
manufacturing firms to the area. AREVA will provide extensive training for its Eagle
Rock work force, and approximately 20 percent of employees will involve advanced
training in the operation of this modern facility.
The majority of capital invested by AREVA will go into the region’s economy
which will see as much as $5 billion in economic activity, according to a study by the
Regional Development Alliance of Idaho Falls.
“Eagle Rock in Idaho and the AREVA Newport News manufacturing facility in
Virginia are precisely what our country needs during this tough economic downturn.
Strong businesses such as AREVA stepping up and investing billions, generating high
skilled and high paying jobs for Americans, while expanding our manufacturing base,”
Shakir said.
To enable AREVA make these and other key investments in the most critical
segments of the economy, the company has applied for a loan guarantee from the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) to help secure financing for its Eagle Rock facility. The
DOE loan guarantee program is designed to encourage creditworthy companies invest
in innovative clean energy projects.
The frozen capital market makes it difficult to raise the large amount of capital
required for nuclear energy projects. Even a project with an investment grade rating
using a proven technology such as Eagle Rock will face extreme difficulties in raising
debt financing.
“This is why we urge the DOE to move forward in awarding Eagle Rock and
other creditworthy reactor projects loan guarantees to allow these important projects to
move forward to power our economy, create thousands of jobs, while providing the
highest level of assurance of repayment to U.S. taxpayers,” said Shakir.
AREVA Enrichment Services has also moved forward in setting up its new
organization and announced key appointments. The company named Robert Poyser as
its Vice President of Idaho Falls Operations, George Harper as its Vice President of
Engineering, and Michael French as its Senior Policy Advisor.
Poyser’s career at AREVA and its predecessor companies spans more than
three decades. He previously served as the Vice President of Environmental Affairs &
Sustainable Development for AREVA Inc., and prior to that, he directed environmental
programs for Pathfinder Mines Corporation which became part of AREVA through
acquisition.
As the Vice President of Engineering, Harper will lead a team of engineers,
scientists, and planners to secure the licenses and permits and to complete the detailed
design and construct the facility. Harper has 30 years of nuclear energy industry
experience in facility engineering and licensing. He previously served as Technical
Director for the Eagle Rock project and prior to that managed AREVA’s Engineering
Programs Department, which focuses on license renewals, environmental engineering,
quality assurance and related activities.
In his role as Senior Policy Advisor, French provides advice and support to
senior management on policy issues and directs interactions with key agencies in the
federal government. He has more than 25 years of government relations,
communications and business development experience working with technical and
engineering organizations. Most recently, French was the lead for strategy and
communications for a division of the Shaw Group. He previously worked for DOE, a
member of Congress, and the Fluor Corporation.
More about
As the leading U.S. nuclear vendor and a key player in the electricity transmission and distribution sector, AREVA Inc.’s 5,300 U.S. energy employees are committed to serving the nation and paving the way for the future of the electricity market. With 45 locations across the nation and nearly $2 billion in energy revenues in 2007, AREVA Inc., through its subsidiaries, combines U.S. leadership, access to worldwide expertise and a proven track record of performance. In the U.S. and in more than 100 countries around the world, AREVA is engaged in the 21st century’s greatest challenges: making energy available to all, protecting the planet, and acting responsibly toward future generations. AREVA Inc. is headquartered in Bethesda , Maryland .
Press Contact
Jarret Adams
Tel.: (301) 841-1695
Cell: (301) 221-5055 |
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Laurence Pernot
Tel.: (301) 841-1694
Cell: (202) 294-8939 |
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