Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI1077
2009-09-03 04:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
FRENCH SEEK U.S. COORDINATION ON STALLED BID FOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #1077 2460436 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 030436Z SEP 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2255 INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0107 RHMFISS/HQ EPA OIA WASHINGTON DC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 001077
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/TC, ISN/FO RSTRATFORD AND ISN/NESS
ABURKART, DOE FOR EMCGINNIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: ENRG SENV TRGY FR TW
SUBJECT: FRENCH SEEK U.S. COORDINATION ON STALLED BID FOR
NUCLEAR FUEL RECYCLING
Classified By: Economic Chief Hanscom Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 001077
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/TC, ISN/FO RSTRATFORD AND ISN/NESS
ABURKART, DOE FOR EMCGINNIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: ENRG SENV TRGY FR TW
SUBJECT: FRENCH SEEK U.S. COORDINATION ON STALLED BID FOR
NUCLEAR FUEL RECYCLING
Classified By: Economic Chief Hanscom Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (U) This telegram contains an action request for T/ISN
in para 4.
1. (C) SUMMARY. French contacts in Taiwan are seeking U.S.
coordination to ascertain why a bid by the French company
AREVA to recycle spent nuclear fuel from Taiwan was stalled
by the Ministry of Economic Affairs last year. The French
Institute in Taipei believes that AIT can compel Taiwan
nuclear authorities to complete the tendering process in
favor of AREVA. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) French Institute in Taipei Economic Counselor
Emmanuel Ly-Batallan met with ESTHoff on September 1 to
discuss a stalled bid by AREVA, a French public industrial
conglomerate, to recycle 292 tons of spent nuclear fuel from
Taiwan's Chinshan Nuclear Power Plant. According to
Ly-Batallan, AREVA was named over one year ago as the sole
competent bidder for this project in a process supported by
Taiwan's Atomic Energy Council (AEC) and the Institute of
Nuclear Energy Research (INER). However, approximately one
year ago, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA)
stepped in to halt the process before the tender could be
awarded. Ly-Batallan told us that MOEA gave no explanation
for its action, but also that his office did not follow up
with MOEA. ESTHoff suggested that Mr. Ly-Batallan inquire
directly with the relevant MOEA office for more information,
which he noted he would do.
3. (C) Ly-Batallan was under the impression that AIT can get
the process moving again if we request from the competent
Taiwan nuclear authorities a letter asking the U.S. to
authorize Taiwan to ship the spent fuel to France. The
thrust of Ly-Batallan's visit to AIT was to ascertain if this
is in fact the case, and, if so, will AIT help the French
Institute in Taipei convince Taiwan to award the tender to
AREVA?
4. (SBU) Please advise what steps AIT should take in
responding to the French request for assistance, and provide
any relevant background on the case. ESTH Officer Dan Wald
(walddp@state.gov) is the point of contact for this issue.
STANTON
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EAP/TC, ISN/FO RSTRATFORD AND ISN/NESS
ABURKART, DOE FOR EMCGINNIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: ENRG SENV TRGY FR TW
SUBJECT: FRENCH SEEK U.S. COORDINATION ON STALLED BID FOR
NUCLEAR FUEL RECYCLING
Classified By: Economic Chief Hanscom Smith for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.
1. (U) This telegram contains an action request for T/ISN
in para 4.
1. (C) SUMMARY. French contacts in Taiwan are seeking U.S.
coordination to ascertain why a bid by the French company
AREVA to recycle spent nuclear fuel from Taiwan was stalled
by the Ministry of Economic Affairs last year. The French
Institute in Taipei believes that AIT can compel Taiwan
nuclear authorities to complete the tendering process in
favor of AREVA. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) French Institute in Taipei Economic Counselor
Emmanuel Ly-Batallan met with ESTHoff on September 1 to
discuss a stalled bid by AREVA, a French public industrial
conglomerate, to recycle 292 tons of spent nuclear fuel from
Taiwan's Chinshan Nuclear Power Plant. According to
Ly-Batallan, AREVA was named over one year ago as the sole
competent bidder for this project in a process supported by
Taiwan's Atomic Energy Council (AEC) and the Institute of
Nuclear Energy Research (INER). However, approximately one
year ago, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA)
stepped in to halt the process before the tender could be
awarded. Ly-Batallan told us that MOEA gave no explanation
for its action, but also that his office did not follow up
with MOEA. ESTHoff suggested that Mr. Ly-Batallan inquire
directly with the relevant MOEA office for more information,
which he noted he would do.
3. (C) Ly-Batallan was under the impression that AIT can get
the process moving again if we request from the competent
Taiwan nuclear authorities a letter asking the U.S. to
authorize Taiwan to ship the spent fuel to France. The
thrust of Ly-Batallan's visit to AIT was to ascertain if this
is in fact the case, and, if so, will AIT help the French
Institute in Taipei convince Taiwan to award the tender to
AREVA?
4. (SBU) Please advise what steps AIT should take in
responding to the French request for assistance, and provide
any relevant background on the case. ESTH Officer Dan Wald
(walddp@state.gov) is the point of contact for this issue.
STANTON