Areva, the world's largest nuclear power group, wants to account for a third of all new nuclear reactors built worldwide between now and 2030, company chief executive Anne Lauvergeon said Wednesday.
"Between now and 2030 we believe there could be 100 to 300 (nuclear reactors built around the world)," she told the French National Assembly's economic affairs committee.
"We want a third of that business."
She said Areva, in conjunction with Siemens of Germany, would build 1,600-megawatt third generation European Pressurised Water Reactors as well as l,100-megawatt Atmea reactors, working with Mitsubishi of Japan.
Areva, she added, had a "five-year lead" on its competitors in the development of such facilities.
She said the company would invest 10 billion euros (14.4 billion dollars) in such projects over the next five years, adding that she preferred a capital increase rather than a suggested merger with the French industrial and engineering group Alstom.
In the face of rising demand for nuclear-powered electricity, Lauvergeon told lawmakers that Areva would expand its workforce from its current 65,000 to 100,000 by 2010-2011.
