European firms launch marketing campaign for nuke power in Mideast
LONDON — Leading European energy majors have targeted the Middle East in a nuclear power marketing offensive.
At least two energy majors have been briefing a range of Arab states on
options for nuclear power. The majors, identified as France's Total and
Italy's Eni, plan to focus on North African and Gulf Cooperation Council
states, particularly leading crude oil and natural gas producers.
"It is logical for us [to say to them]: We make nuclear and you keep the
gas," Eni chief executive officer Paolo Scaroni said.
In an interview with the London-based Financial Times, Scaroni said Eni
was targeting major gas producers in North Africa as customers for nuclear
reactors, Middle East Newsline reported. Scaroni cited Algeria and Egypt.
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Total has also focused on Middle East clients for nuclear power.
Executives said the French company was offering to construct nuclear power
facilities in exchange for an expanded presence in the oil and gas sectors
of Gulf and North African states.
In January 2008, Total was part of a consortium that signed a nuclear
cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates. Under the accord,
Total, France's nuclear group Areva and French utility Suez would
construct two pressurized water reactors in the UAE.
"I told the UAE: Why don't you think about nuclear?" Total chief
executive officer Christophe de Margerie said.
De Margerie said Total expected to conclude a nuclear deal with another
Middle East state. Over the last two years, France has signed nuclear
cooperation agreements with Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.