Japan asks French nuclear sector for help

Reuters ^ | 03/28/11

[TigerLikesRooster]

Japan asks French nuclear sector for help

Japan has asked the French nuclear sector for help in dealing with the Fukushima nuclear plant for the first time since disaster struck earlier this month, French Energy Minister Eric Besson said on Monday. Skip related content

This reflects growing unease about efforts by the Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) to control the six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi complex after it was crippled by an earthquake and tsunami.

"Japan explicitly asked EDF, Areva and France's nuclear research body (CEA) to help them," Besson said adding this was the first time Japan had done so.

[TigerLikesRooster]

So they can't count on nuclear experts from U.S.? Is there a crack developing between Japanese and Americans over how to resolve the crisis?

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[dfwgator]

Or did the Japanese ask the US, but Obama was too busy filling out his bracket?

[driftdiver]

one more nation that BO is working to alienate.

[dfwgator]

But to be fair, Nuclear Power is one thing the French do right.

[Never on my watch]

They should ask for German experts. Merkel just out a bunch of them out of work.

[Never on my watch]

Merkel just out PUT a bunch of them out of work.

[NonValueAdded]

France does have a heavy nuc footprint and one must assume some level of competence. Maybe the US sent too many bureaucrats and academics when hands-on types are what’s needed.

[thackney]

France has 58 nuclear reactors and genererate 430 billion kWh per year.

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf40.html

- - - -

The USA has 104 nuclear power reactors and generate 805 billion kWh per year.

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf41.html

[dfwgator]

We also have 5 times the population of France.

[Cvengr]

Yes, but France has so many more Muslim nuclear engineers. Don’t you feel safer now?

[thackney]

Sure, but when it comes to experience, number of reactors, amount of power generated, number of people working in the industry, etc... We have more than France.

I believe France does it “better” and is likely the reason they are involved.

[FrogMom]

Supposedly BO put conditions on our helping them and Japan refused the conditions. That was in the first hours of the crisis.

Bo needs to be put UNDER the jail with his whole damned administration.

[SteveH]

This is odd...

[FrogMom]

Here’s my source on the BO thing:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2690553/posts

[silverleaf]

the french use plutonium and reprocess their fuel, maybe they have more expertise

Not to mention they have adult leadership

[TYVets]

Thanks for posting the link to an earlier reply.

It tells about 0bama the control freak.

[Ditto]

I believe France does it “better” and is likely the reason they are involved.

They don't do it any differently than anyone else. And for these reactors in Japan, the French probably have the least experience. The Japanese plant in trouble right now is a BWR -- Boiling Water Reactor. France does not have any of those types in its fleet. They are entirely PWRs -- Pressurized Water Reactors.

[BlazingArizona]

“Sure, but when it comes to experience, number of reactors, amount of power generated, number of people working in the industry, etc... We have more than France.”

You mean DID have more than France. But for the past thirty years our nuclear engineers have been flipping burgers, while France’s have been building reactors. Game over.

[thackney]

I put better in quotes for a reason. It certainly is debatable. They have been more consistent and had better government policies leading to more success in their industry.

You are right on the PWR vs. BWR. Why would you guess the French were requested? Issues with the cooling pool?