France leads the way on nuclear power at Paris conference
French President Nicolas Sarkozy encouraged international financial institutions to help fund nuclear power generation on Monday. At the International Conference on Access to Civil Nuclear Energy in Paris he positioned French nuclear technology as the most advanced in the world and announced the creation of a special international institute.
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Delegates from around 60 countries were present at the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to find out about how nuclear power can satisfy their increasing energy requirements.
Sarkozy called on organisations like the World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to finance civil nuclear power projects.
He described the nuclear power industry as βostracisedβ by international finance, adding that the lack of funding was the βstuff of scandalβ.
French engineering firms Areva and EDF are currently pushing their latest third-generation reactor technology, the European Pressurised Reactor, which can produce more electricity and is intended to be safer.
France sees itself as playing a leading role in the sector and Sarkozy said a new group will be bring together Franceβs best teachers and researchers.
The creation of an International Institute of Nuclear Energy will help βchange up a gearβ, according to Sarkozy. The organisation will become a part of a network, starting with a hub in Jordan, and a Franco-Chinese nuclear institute in cooperation with Guangzhou University.
France produces a greater proportion of energy through nuclear power than any other country.
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