10 July 2001

U.S., France to Fund Advanced Nuclear Energy Research Jointly

The United States and France signed a bilateral agreement July 9 to fund jointly advanced research on the development of the next generation of nuclear power technologies.

"Advanced nuclear energy systems provide a clean air alternative for the world's future energy supply," U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said, adding that the United States and France are committed to dedicating their "expertise and resources to the joint development of nuclear systems that are safe, economical and proliferation-resistant."

Following is the text of an Energy Department press release on the agreement:

U.S. Department of Energy
Washington, D.C.

July 10, 2001

Press Release

U.S. SIGNS BILATERAL R&D AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and Chairman Pascal Colombani of the Commissariat a L=Energie Atomique (CEA) of France yesterday signed a bilateral agreement to jointly fund innovative U.S.-French research in advanced reactors and fuel cycle development. The Department of Energy (DOE) and CEA are expected to award merit-selected research grants later this summer to joint U.S.-French research teams.

The joint research projects will support the recommendation in the Bush Administration's National Energy Policy to pursue research that will develop next generation nuclear reactor technologies.

"Advanced nuclear energy systems provide a clean air alternative for the world's future energy supply," said Secretary Abraham. "This agreement demonstrates the strong commitment of France and the U.S. to dedicate our expertise and resources to the joint development of nuclear systems that are safe, economical and proliferation-resistant. It is our hope that this research will accelerate deployment of Generation IV nuclear energy systems by 2030 or earlier."

The agreement is part of DOE's International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (I-NERI) launched this year by the department's Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology. I-NERI will foster international collaborative research and development of nuclear technology, focusing on the development of Generation IV advanced nuclear system technologies. The joint research awarded through this agreement will enable the U.S. and France to move forward with leading-edge generic research that can benefit the range of reactor and fuel cycle designs anticipated in the future. With France, the Energy Department is currently developing a Generation IV Technology Roadmap that, when complete next year, will serve as the research and development plan for advanced reactor and fuel cycle system development. Besides France and the U.S., other countries participating in the roadmap are: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, South Africa, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

This I-NERI agreement implements the DOE/CEA Agreement of Cooperation in Advanced Nuclear Reactor Science and Technology signed on September 18, 2000.

This agreement is the second bilateral I-NERI agreement signed this year. In May, the department signed a similar agreement with the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Science and Technology to conduct joint U.S.-South Korean research in the areas of advanced instrumentation, controls and diagnostics; advanced light water reactor technology; advanced light water reactor fuels and materials; and advanced computational methods.

Media Contact: Jeanne Lopatto 202/586-4940

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