Russia Rosatom has vocation to act alone

In the aftermath of the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Siemens in the nuclear field, the Director General of the Russian public corporation Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, is back in detail on this partnership, likely to emerge a new giant. This year, the joint venture wants to be able to compete with French Areva on all of its trades. "We are preparing to work with Siemens for at least 30 years," warned the head of Rosatom.

What is the purpose of your future joint venture with Siemens

We want to be the world leader in nuclear power. This course starts with the delivery of turnkey plants, but also includes other services or products, such as fuel, equipment, commissioning of the reactor. Everything needs the potential client, we want to bring it.

In what country and what horizon

The purpose of the business will be to sell reactors around the world, but primarily in third countries. Russia, Rosatom has vocation to act alone. With Siemens, we will establish working groups to determine our priority markets. It is therefore too early to say that, but we clearly regions in the viewfinder: Central and Eastern Europe, Asia, Middle East, North Africa... On the calendar, the joint venture must be able to sign contracts as soon as this year.

That will become your existing partnerships, such as with Alstom

We have a good partnership with Alstom, but it is very specific (limited to a certain type of turbine, Editor's note). All our contractual commitments will be filled. We have other partners, in India for example, and we expect much to keep them, there also to our obligations. But in regard to new projects, the joint venture with Siemens that will be in the front line.

Does your partnership with Toshiba project always has a future

I repeat, all our commitments will be respected. In any case, our project must return in case of existing partnerships. With Toshiba does not exclude those with Siemens. We will cooperate on different aspects of the nuclear value chain. As you know, it is very broad and we are only covering mines in operation of plants.

So far, you want to be alone. Why this change

We are convinced of two things. First, there is a renaissance of nuclear power. Second, the market in question is a global and not national market. We must have a dimension and global strategy. Currently, demand exceeds supply, and this situation encourages us to cooperate. If Rosatom deeply restructured in recent years, it was also to be ready to open to alliances.

That brings you Siemens Will there be a transfer of powers

Siemens has expertise in conventional turbines and control. But the joint venture beyond this that provides one or the other, it seeks to bring to market a new quality of services. On expertise, it will be simply to the joint venture. It is not to transfer the technology from Rosatom to Siemens or vice versa. The future business is expected to generate profits in an independent manner.

To what extent can Siemens have more influence than in Areva NP

I can't comment on the relationship between Siemens and Areva. But for a partnership to succeed in the long term, it must be based on reciprocity. If you have not balanced relationships, this may end up very quickly. We are preparing to work with Siemens for at least thirty years. Requires that each finds his account and is mutually full. This is the case since our technological strengths complement each other. We are present on different markets.

AREVA wants to build one-third of new plants in the world. You want to be world leader. What is your goal

Also a third, approximately. We believe that by combining the forces of Rosatom and those of Siemens, it should be possible. You know, we now have 20 to 25 of market share in us only. Two, we are necessarily more. I would remind you that we are currently building 12 nuclear plants, including 5 abroad, in India, in Bulgaria. We are screened by the Turkey. We have signed a memorandum of understanding in India...