US energy company Duke Energy has announced the sale of Duke Engineering & Services (DE&S), its engineering and technical services business unit, to Framatome ANP.
The purchase includes three DE&S business groups - Nuclear, Federal and Energy & Environmental. The Nuclear Group focuses on nuclear engineering, plant upgrades, instrumentation and control and spent fuel storage engineering. The Federal Group provides engineering and site management for several Department of Energy nuclear sites. The Energy and Environmental Group serves the hydro, gas transmission and fossil energy markets.
Two current components of DE&S are not part of the sale. Duke Energy will establish Duke Energy - Energy Delivery Services, formed by the power delivery services component of DE&S. Leadership of the US Department of Energy MOX project will also remain with Duke Energy.
DE&S sales exceeded $280 million in 2000, with approximately the same figure expected for 2001. The incorporation of DE&S into Framatome ANP will add about 1250 employees to the 2200 already employed by Framatome ANP in the USA. The sale is expected to close in the second quarter of 2002.
This acquisition strengthens the position of Areva - the holding company of Framatome ANP - in nuclear engineering and services in the USA. Significant growth is projected in these markets with the extension of nuclear plant life from 40 to 60 years and related projects to raise their power output. Anne Lauvergeon, chairman of Areva, said: "This is one more step in the Areva Group's development in the United States, and it will raise our sales in North America above $1.5 billion." Duke Energy chief executive Bruce Williamson said: "As Duke Energy pursues a focus on wholesale markets, it is appropriate to place DE&S with a company where the business mission is aligned." He added that Duke Energy and Framatome ANP have had a "close working relationship for the past 30 years." The deal follows the purchase by Areva's Cogema subsidiary of nuclear measurements company Canberra Industries.
• Framatome ANP and US utility Ameren UE, a division of Ameren, have signed a contract for four steam generator replacements at the Callaway plant. Delivery of the four replacement steam generators is scheduled for spring 2005, with installation in the autumn of 2005. Callaway is a 4-loop Westinghouse 1171MWe PWR.
