AREVA RESPONSES TO M&G QUESTIONS

1. U.S. diplomatic cables (“Wikileaks”) between 2007-2009 depict Areva as having “French government support ... a network of partnerships ...[and] strong political connections [in South Africa]” which gave it the edge over Westinghouse in the political lobbying process for the first nuclear tender.  The cables suggest Areva was able to skillfully negotiate the transfer of political power from Thabo Mbeki to Jacob Zuma, and its lobbying and political influence are central to the company’s bid for the new nuclear build tender.  Please comment.
2. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have complained that one Areva lobbyist and two Électricité de France lobbyists “took advantage” of an invitation to provide technical input at a series of NUM nuclear policy review sessions at the union's offices in Johannesburg since April last year, that the ongoing presence of French lobbyists at the meetings (when there are other bidders for the nuclear tender) was a cause of  “discomfort” for union members, and that the three lobbyists were no longer welcome at either Cosatu or NUM meetings.  Please comment.
3. What is Areva’s policy towards lobbying South African policymakers, politicians, unions and businessmen for the new nuclear build tender?
4. Does Areva have any guidelines/ethics codes to guide its staff when lobbying?
5. Has Areva engaged any agents -- either in South Africa or abroad, for work or potential work – in respect of the SA nuclear build process?
6. If so, please name such agents or agencies and indicate whether their engagement includes a “success fee” or a fee based in any way on the value of any contract that may be awarded to Areva.

ANSWERS

Q1:
Areva did not see these cables but as every country in the world France supports its companies, including AREVA, worldwide.
The AREVA’s ambitious bid was in line with its desire to continue in its role as a long-established partner to ESKOM and South Africa in terms of nuclear energy. AREVA does its best to continue to keep the advantage its offer has, based on safety, technical and economic criteria. AREVA doesn’t participate in the national politics of countries where it does business. As nuclear energy is always a subject which involves government, it is only normal that AREVA engages with the SA government, irrespective of who the President is.

Q2:
AREVA participated at two meetings where it was invited to present its activities and on nuclear energy as a whole. AREVA is not aware that other vendors where not invited and has no comment on this. AREVA was not aware of any dissent around its participation in the meeting. We consider nuclear energy as a very important issue for any country, and it is part of our normal activities to inform all stakeholders, including unions, about the issues around energy, nuclear energy, and AREVA’s propositions. AREVA actually holds regular stakeholder sessions around the world, without specific links to its commercial activities.


Q3:
AREVA has a long partnership with South Africa, since the construction of the Koeberg Plant. AREVA obviously explains what this partnership is but also gives broader information on nuclear energy and on AREVA’s activities. To remind you of this partnership, AREVA built the twin units of the Koeberg nuclear power plant in the eighties. Today AREVA is present in Koeberg in the fields of utility services, technical assistance and fuel supply. Utility services mainly comprise inspection of operations, maintenance, repair and component replacement as well as engineering and upgrading services. AREVA is also working with South Africa on training in the nuclear energy, mining and high-tech fields. Education and higher education are a major challenge for South Africa.
AREVA has also engaged in Transmission and Distribution activities (before the branch was sold to Alstom) and mining in South Africa.


Q4:
Adopted in 2003, the group’s Values Charter applies to all group activities, both nuclear and non-nuclear, in all countries where the group operates.

This Charter applies to all managers and employees. The management is responsible for its implementation at all levels. It brings together the values, principles of action and rules of conduct.
The introduction to the Values Charter reminds us of our commitment to the key concerns of our age: sustainable development, human rights, and adhesion to international guidelines defined by the OCDE and the UN, such as the Global Compact.
Recently, AREVA adopted a common set of principles of conduct with the world’s other leading nuclear plant vendors. Crafted over the last three years and facilitated by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, this code reflects the best practices for the export of new nuclear power plants to countries with existing nuclear programs, as well as those interested in developing civilian nuclear power.
The principles are designed to complement existing standards and norms both by endorsing these as industry best practices and building upon these where appropriate. Indeed, many of the principles incorporate obligations that already exist in international treaties and conventions, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) guidelines and the industry’s own customs.

Q5 and Q6:
AREVA has been contributing to the development of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in South Africa for many years in particular with the construction of the Koeberg nuclear power plant and supply of maintenance services. AREVA is in South Africa with an office and an engineering subsidiary in Cape Town and strongly wishes to be part of the development of a new South African nuclear program. To serve that goal, it has developed industrial partnership with local industries. With such a presence in South Africa, AREVA does not have and does not need to hire sales agents to promote itself in the country.