Rosatom prepared to discuss buying stake in Areva, but sees no interest from France
PARIS. Dec 28 (Interfax) - Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear corporation, is open to discussing the purchase of a stake in French nuclear power company Areva, but does not see reciprocal interest on the part of the French authorities, who are holding negotiations with Asian investors, the vice president of Rosatom Western Europe, Andrei Rozhdestvin said.
Areva, which is 87% owned by the state, is trying to right its financial condition, which has been shaken due to mistakes in the construction of nuclear reactors in France and Finland, as well as due to the closure of reactors in Germany and Japan following the meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011.
The acquisition of a stake in Areva has not been ruled out, but the French government is not very keen on this, Rozhdestvin was reported as saying by the publication Challenges.
Negotiations are not being held with Rosatom, he said. Rosatom is prepared to participate in resolving Areva's problems, but the French are currently discussing this only with Japan and China, which concerns Rosatom as a partner of Areva in a number of projects, Rozhdestvin said.
