The French are a canny lot…

While we have been arguing with Greenpeace and fudging our energy strategy Les Gaulois have been quietly continuing to generate nuclear power and remain relatively unconcerned by the upcoming energy crunch… indeed they have positively turned it to their advantage.

There is a shortage of nuclear engineers in the world. That’s what happens when an industry shrinks… no-one trains in the field.

The UK’s nuclear industry is facing a skills crisis as experienced nuclear engineers approach retirement amid an acute shortage of UK graduates to replace them.

Fewer than 6% of the estimated 100,000 people who work in the industry – including 23,500 at degree level – are under 24, while 31% are aged 45 and over.

At British Energy, which operates 8 nuclear power stations, up to 40% of staff are set to retire within the next ten years, according to David Barber, the head of training.

However, France embraced the nuclear industry and has many engineers, technicians and specialists in the field. It is going to make the most of this and export its knowledge, making big bucks and guaranteeing employment for its citizens for many years to come.

In January, French President Nicholas Sarkozy toured the Middle East just a few days after George W Bush. However, while Mr Bush was obsessed with trying to counter Iran’s influence, Mr Sarkozy was there to strike deals that would enrich mother France… and he was very successful.

The French president has signed an agreement to build nuclear power stations in the Gulf – and this deal is expected to secure revenues of around £3 billion for French businesses. This follows a recent £6 billion deal with the Chinese.

Next: South Africa

So, with billions to come into French coffers from China and Arab countries, why not follow all the energy crises and make even more cash too..?

Of course, South Africa has been hitting the headlines. Its economic growth could be severely stunted if it does not get the current energy crisis under control… So, to the rescue, comes the caped energy superhero that is La France…

Nicolas Sarkozy continued his jet-setting and found himself in South Africa last week.

Following last Thursday’s talks with President Thabo Mbeki, France came away with a 1.4-billion-euro deal for French group Alstom to supply turbines for a new coal-fired power station.

Sarkozy also promised to send a team of engineers from Areva, which is bidding to build a second $15.8 billion nuclear power plant in South Africa, and electricity utility EDF to help the country resolve chronic power shortages.

The decision on the new reactor will be taken later this year. France’s Areva and the US’s Westinghouse Electric have submitted bids to Eskom. The two companies are bidding not only to build the first new power plant, but also to provide up to 20000MW of nuclear power by 2025.

Westinghouse is bidding with construction company Murray & Roberts and the US’s Shaw Group, in a consortium called N-Powerment. Areva, which built the original two Koeberg units, heads a consortium that comprises construction group Aveng, French construction company Bouygues and electricity group EDF.

Will all the help and aid being given by the charmant Sarkozy tip the balance in France’s favour…? We shall see… But France appears to be a country which is set to benefit from the energy crunch. The food is pretty good too… I might just have to move there as soon as I can.

Regards,

Garry White

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