As part of the Chinese state visit to France in early November, Areva CEO Anne Lauvergeon and CNNC president Sun Qin have signed an industrial agreement on cooperation in the field of used fuel treatment and recycling. The document is the final step towards a commercial contract. The authorities of the two countries made a joint declaration in December 2009 authorizing CNNC and AREVA to enter into detailed negotiations. According to Areva feasibility studies have already begun.
In early October 2010, Chinese officials signed a framework agreement with Belgian nuclear firms. This Framework Agreement defines the context for the construction of a pilot installation for MOX fuel fabrication in China and for the use of MOX fuel in Chinese nuclear reactors. This Framework Agreement can lead within a relatively short term to a commercial agreement including technology transfer and technical assistance by the Belgian partners, according to a Belgonucleaire press release.
The press release also said that CNNC wants to build a pilot installation for MOX fuel fabrication in China, with the support of the Belgian companies Belgonucleaire, the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN) and Tractebel Engineering (TE), a subsidiary of GDF Suez.
