Agreement between AREVA and EDF on Eurodif

AREVA and EDF have reached an agreement extending operation of the EURODIF* enrichment plant until the end of 2012 and laying down the operating conditions for 2011-2012.

Under the agreement, EURODIF will start operating at its minimum technical capacity as soon as possible, with EDF supplying the electricity for the next two years. It also gives EDF an additional 1000 MW over the 2011-2012 period to provide its customers with electricity and guarantees a further 2000 MW beyond that date.

The agreement was reached in the framework of the joint strategic partnership between AREVA and EDF.

Both groups are delighted that a solution has been found to ensure the smooth transition between EURODIF and the Georges Besse II enrichment plant, both production-wise and as far as the workforce is concerned.

* Located on the Tricastin site, the Georges Besse plant (operated by EURODIF) has been using gaseous diffusion technology to enrich uranium since 1978. This is an essential step in the nuclear fuel fabrication process.

AREVA supplies solutions for carbon-free power generation. Its expertise and know-how in this field are setting the standard, and its responsible development is anchored in a process of continuous improvement. As the global nuclear industry leader, AREVA’s unique integrated offer to utilities covers every stage of the fuel cycle, nuclear reactor design and construction, and related services. The group is also expanding considerably in renewable energies – wind, solar, bioenergies, hydrogen and storage – to be one of the top three in this sector worldwide in 2012. Every day, AREVA’s 48,000 employees cultivate the synergies between these two major carbon-free offers, helping to supply safer, cleaner and more economical energy to the greatest number of people.

The EDF Group, one of the leaders in the energy market in Europe, is an integrated energy company active in all businesses:
generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading. The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe. In France, it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities where 95% of the electricity output involves no CO2 emissions.
EDF’s transport and distribution subsidiaries in France operate 1,285,000 km of low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to around 38 million customers around the world, including close to 28 million in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of €66.3 billion in 2009, of which 49% in Europe excluding France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.

Press contacts:

AREVA : Patricia Marie - +33 1 34 96 12 96
EDF : Jill Coulombez - + 33 1 40 42 36 47

Analyst contacts:

AREVA : Patricia Marie - +33 1 34 96 12 96
EDF : Carine de Boissezon: + 33 1 40 42 45 53;
David Newhouse : + 33 1 40 42 32 45