FRAMATOME-SIEMENS AND THE EPR

The European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR) is the joint dream of Siemens, one of the largest companies of any kind in the world, and Framatome, which calls itself the "global leader in the nuclear power field."

The EPR is their "advanced" reactor design, intended to replace existing reactors in Europe beginning in about 15 years, and to compete with U.S. designs like the Westinghouse AP600 and GE ABWR on the worldwide market. To design and manufacture this new reactor, Siemens and Framatome set up a new corporation, Nuclear Power International.

Siemens is a huge company engaged in numerous endeavors; 1999 revenue approached $70 Billion. Its nuclear business includes reactor construction—including involvement in Eastern European reactors such as Mochovce in Slovakia—and the nuclear services business worldwide, including contracts at Hanford, Washington.

Framatome is more narrowly focused, with about 46% of its 1998 revenue of nearly $3 billion coming from its nuclear division. It claims to be the largest manufacturer of reactors in the world, having built all of the reactors which supply France with 78% of its power. Framatome also says it is the number one provider of nuclear services in Europe and number two in the U.S.

The big problem for Framatome is a lack of reactor orders—even France has no reactors on order anymore. And despite their joint dream, there are so far no orders for the Framatome/Siemens EPR either.