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Recent Questions and Answers
Q: I have heard that nuclear waste by statute must be returned to its place of origin. Is this true?
Q: There are rumours that AREVA wants to expand their presence in Canada by building a nuclear power plant in Alberta. As a pro nuclear advocate, I am excited by such a possibility. Is there some truth in this, or is it just a rumour?
Q. How do you think you can beat other companies (Alberta Energy Corp) for the race to nuclear power in Alberta? How do your reactors compare in size to the one they are planning to build?
Q. I live and work in Saskatchewan. Do you think we will ever get a nuclear power station in Saskatchewan, if so, how long, and what as been the reason why we have not had one installed earlier?
Q. Hi, I am resident of northern Saskatchewan and I would like to know of any entry level employment oppurtunities within AREVA.
Q. My name is Kan, and I am from the NPP utilities in China, Now I am worrying about the high price of uranium products, which I think will force shutdown of many NPPs if such a terrible situation goes on. What are your comments or judgment on this issue?
Q. How can a person become a member of a great company when that person has qualifications to do a lot for the company, but yet can't become a member? In order to get a job you need experience, but you need experience to get a job....I have applied many many times to your company and have not received any feed back and interviews. I am a native who lives in the great north and would like a chance with a great company. I hope to hear from you, thank you for your time.
Q. I am seeking information on possible investment opportunities in AREVA through a private placement or any other type of investment vehicle you may be offering to accredited investors. Any information about investment opportunities in your company would be appreciated.
Q. Can you tell me why we in Saskatchewan are not more actively pursuing nuclear as an option for our energy needs given that we could become a major supplier of electrical energy to not only neighbouring provinces but probably also to other jurisdictions in North America as well?
Also, can you foresee a waste disposal/recycling industry somewhere in Canada, which just might have more economic potential than the supply of nuclear energy? Speaking personally, the more I learn about the industry, the less opposed I have become. Indeed, I am now of the mind that I have wasted a lot of years being afraid of nuclear when, in fact, the things that I was afraid of are being shown as totally unfounded, i.e. that a nuclear reactor was capable of producing a nuclear explosion, that workers in such a facility would be exposed to life-threatening risks, that Chernobyl could be repeated out of any nuclear facility, etc.
The final question is: what can I do to help to get nuclear on the table as an economic engine, which could entirely transform this province?
Q. Does AREVA participate in a professional mentor program? How can high school students seeking careers in the mining industry apply for summer employment.
Q: I have heard that nuclear waste by statute must be returned to its place of origin. Is this true?
A: There is no statute in Canada that forces nuclear waste to be returned to its place of origin. I believe that, in France, where AREVA recycles used fuel from France and other jurisdictions, all of the materials, including reprocessed MOX fuel and any remaining wastes, are returned to the country that used the fuel bundles.
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Q: There are rumours that AREVA wants to expand their presence in Canada by building a nuclear power plant in Alberta. As a pro nuclear advocate, I am excited by such a possibility. Is there some truth in this, or is it just a rumour?
A: AREVA designs and builds nuclear power plants and would be pleased to sell its EPR technology to one or more utilities in Canada. This could include utilities in Ontario and Alberta, but that would be up to the customer.
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Q. How do you think you can beat other companies (Alberta Energy Corp) for the race to nuclear power in Alberta? How do your reactors compare in size to the one they are planning to build?
A. At AREVA Resources, we mine and mill uranium. The larger AREVA group of companies also designs and build nuclear reactors. AREVA's EPR reactor generates about 1600 megawatts of power, making it the largest in the world. It is also the most technologically advanced, being the only Generation III+ reactor on the market. At this time, that is the only model we have available. AREVA has constructed 100 of the earlier version of this reactor. Fifty of these were in France and 50 in other countries around the world.
AREVA is presently constructing two of the EPRs - one in Finland and one in France - and may soon be announcing another two in China. As well, there are several proposals being prepared to construct EPRs in the United States. We are anticipating building many more in France to replace the existing reactor fleet over time. There is also the potential to construct one or more EPR reactors in Ontario and Alberta.
Of course, the customer will decide on the technology to be used. AREVA does not own or operate nuclear power plants.
AREVA's competition in the reactor business includes AECL with its heavy water CANDU reactors as well as other well-established companies with their light water reactor designs.
You can get more information on AREVA activities in Canada through www.arevacanada.ca or, on AREVA group activities, through www.areva.com.
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Q. I live and work in Saskatchewan. Do you think we will ever get a nuclear power station in Saskatchewan, if so, how long, and what as been the reason why we have not had one installed earlier?
A. In Saskatchewan, electricity is generated and distributed primarily by Sask Power. Nuclear power plants are very large sources of energy, with a single plant, depending on the technology, capable of providing from 20% to 50% of Saskatchewan’s present electricity requirements. A single source of that much electricity would require substantial changes to the electrical distribution grid. I am sure there is ample opportunity, however, to use nuclear power generated in this province to support our needs as well as to export. AREVA designs, builds and maintains nuclear power plants, but does not own or operate them. A nuclear power plant could not be built in Saskatchewan without the involvement of Sask Power. While there is increasing discussion in Alberta about siting and building nuclear plants, Sask Power has not become actively involved in the issue.
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Q. Hi, I am resident of northern Saskatchewan and I would like to know of any entry level employment oppurtunities within AREVA.
A. Currently, the following entry-level opportunities are available for Residents of Saskatchewan's North:
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Safety Technician
- Mill Operator
If you are interested in any of these positions or would like more information, please send your resume or contact our La Ronge Office:
AREVA Resources Canada Inc.
Box 900
La Ronge SK S0J 1L0
Phone: (306) 425-6880
Fax: (306) 425-6886
Email: laronge@areva.ca
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Q.
My name is Kan, and I am from the NPP utilities in China, Now I am worrying about the high price of uranium products, which I think will force shutdown of many NPPs if such a terrible situation goes on. What are your comments or judgment on this issue?
A.
The price of uranium is a very small part of the cost of generating electricity at nuclear power plants. We do not see uranium price increases to be risking the shutdown of these plants. We do, however, see security of uranium supply as necessary for the continued development and operation of the world's nuclear industry.
At present, the supply of uranium is considered to be fairly tight. This is likely one of the reasons for the recent price increases. Part of the present concern over supply results from the low prices that uranium producers had been receiving throughout the 1990's and up to a couple of years ago. The low prices discouraged exploration for new ore bodies and hindered the development of mines from the ore bodies that had been discovered.
Now, we are trying to find and produce uranium as quickly as reasonable. Since there is usually a time lag of 10 to 20 years between the discovery of an ore body and production from it, increasing production takes time. The increased prices are now encouraging investment that will provide a reliable uranium supply and, in turn, encourage stable prices.
In conclusion, low uranium prices are the biggest threat to nuclear power plants because they discourage the uranium mining industry from investing and expanding to ensure that a long-term reliable source of fuel is available.
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Q.
How can a person become a member of a great company when that person has qualifications to do a lot for the company, but yet can't become a member? In order to get a job you need experience, but you need experience to get a job....I have applied many many times to your company and have not received any feed back and interviews. I am a native who lives in the great north and would like a chance with a great company. I hope to hear from you, thank you for your time.
A.
Thank you for your note. I am pleased that you would like to work for AREVA and I understand your frustration.
The uranium mining industry is now very technical, requiring specialized post-secondary training for almost all of its employees. There are some entry-level positions that become available from time to time, but these as well as all other mine site positions must be offered first to residents of our designated impact communities and second to residents of the other northern Saskatchewan communities.
When we had the Cluff Lake mine operating, we focused our hiring on the west side communities in the north. For our McClean Lake operation, the impact communities are those located along the northern and eastern edge of the Athabasca Basin. In most cases, any entry level positions that are available are filled by residents of the Basin communities.
I can only suggest that you consider furthering your education in one of the fields that can be employed in our industry. As a resident of northern Saskatchewan with post-secondary training, your chances of being employed by us would then be much better. Good luck with your job search.
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Q.
I am seeking information on possible investment opportunities in AREVA through a private placement or any other type of investment vehicle you may be offering to accredited investors. Any information about investment opportunities in your company would be appreciated.
A.
AREVA Resources Canada Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AREVA, a French company based in Paris. AREVA is about 96% owned by the Government of France, either directly or through entities owned or primarily owned by the government. The remaining approximately 4% of the shares are traded within France as investment certificates. You can get more information on these certificates from the AREVA web site at www.areva.com.
AREVA has been preparing for the possibility of being partially privatised through an Initial Public Offering of a portion of its shares. The IPO would have been in France, although there was some discussion of institutional investors in North America being able to trade in the shares as well.
In late October 2005, the French government announced that it is no longer interested in placing a portion of AREVA on the stock market and that it wishes to maintain its present level of ownership in the company. The private placement discussions, therefore, are on hold and there are no foreseeable direct investment opportunities.
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Q.
Can you tell me why we in Saskatchewan are not more actively pursuing nuclear as an option for our energy needs given that we could become a major supplier of electrical energy to not only neighbouring provinces but probably also to other jurisdictions in North America as well?
Also, can you foresee a waste disposal/recycling industry somewhere in Canada, which just might have more economic potential than the supply of nuclear energy? Speaking personally, the more I learn about the industry, the less opposed I have become. Indeed, I am now of the mind that I have wasted a lot of years being afraid of nuclear when, in fact, the things that I was afraid of are being shown as totally unfounded, i.e. that a nuclear reactor was capable of producing a nuclear explosion, that workers in such a facility would be exposed to life-threatening risks, that Chernobyl could be repeated out of any nuclear facility, etc.
The final question is: what can I do to help to get nuclear on the table as an economic engine, which could entirely transform this province?
A.
Discussions on pursing other nuclear activities in Saskatchewan have been ongoing for a number of years including a failed attempt to site a uranium refinery north of Saskatoon. We know - through regular, independent public opinion polling - that there is a high level of public support for pursuing various value-added activities to take advantage of the uranium that is mined in the province. This includes considering nuclear power as an option for electricity production.
The nuclear power plants available today are very large compared to Saskatchewan's electricity needs and would require substantial new transmission capability to export excess the power. In 2005, discussions on the nuclear power issue included generally supportive public comments from the three provincial political parties. Given public support and general political interest there is the possibility of considering these types of developments should one or more suitable investors, public or private, come forward.
A waste facility is presently being discussed on the national level with Saskatchewan being one of the potential locations, in part because some of the uranium in the used fuel was mined here. Frankly, I believe that there is potentially a lot of public interest in this project.
With respect to recycling, our parent company, AREVA, operates a facility at La Hague in the north of France. It employs about 5,000 people and is very capital intensive. Recycling not only allows about 96% of the used fuel to be re-used, it cuts the final amount of high-level nuclear fuel waste virtually in half. The recycling at La Hague is done for a number of countries as well as for the French nuclear power plant program. Other countries, such as Japan and the United States, are developing this type of capability. This would be a huge undertaking for a country such as Canada and would likely be uneconomic.
On your final question of what you can do "to help to get nuclear on the table as an economic engine, which could entirely transform this province", I would suggest continuing the ongoing public discussion on the merits of adding value to the uranium that we mine here and ship elsewhere. All of the following steps in the nuclear fuel cycle have more economic, technological and innovation value than the mining process. At present, we are not taking advantage of the leverage Saskatchewan has in the industry through providing over 30% of the world's natural uranium.
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Q.
Does AREVA participate in a professional mentor program? How can high school students seeking careers in the mining industry apply for summer employment.
A.
We do not have a professional mentoring program. If you are a student from northern Saskatchewan, you are welcome to contact our Northern Affairs office in La Ronge at 425-6880 or by email (laronge@areva.ca) with respect to summer employment.
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