Infrastruktura - Środowisko - Energia
Dodatek lobbingowy do "RZECZPOSPOLITEJ".
10 marca 2009 r.

po polsku

A pioneer with 40 years of experience in nuclear power engineering and a clear vision of the future

GDF SUEZ - a world leader in power engineering

GDF SUEZ is a world leader in power engineering and a pioneer in nuclear power engineering. It is the biggest European company trading in natural gas, a global leader in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry, the fifth European producer and supplier of electric energy and a European leader in power engineering services. Its total installed capacity is 63 000 MW of which as much as 20.5% is provided by nuclear power plants.

GDF SUEZ Group is well aware that we are at the turning point of the world power engineering.It is estimated that within the next 20 years the global demand for electric power can increase by 65%. As much as 2/3 of the global energy generation is still based on fossil fuels. In consequence, within the last 30 years CO₂ emission increased by 70%. If there is no rapid development of energy sources with low CO₂ emission, such as for example nuclear energy or energy from renewable sources, CO₂ emission can increase by another 70% as early as in 2030.

Global warming combat, energy security, high prices and limited resources of fossil fuels force mankind to make choices as to further steps and to decide on the priorities. Development of renewable power engineering, which is one of the areas actively explored by GDF SUEZ, is a good solution. It is worth mentioning that by 2015 GDF SUEZ plans to double its production capacity based on renewable sources. Unfortunately, this is a partial solution as renewable energy can not meet the growing demand in 100%. Therefore, GDF SUEZ wishes to initiate a serious and open dialogue on the energy of the future, i.e. nuclear energy.

GDF SUEZ
Nuclear power

GDF SUEZ is a company with a well-established and stable market position and wide experience, also in the field of nuclear power engineering. Currently, GDF SUEZ owns and manages seven nuclear reactors in Belgium with the total capacity of 5700 MW and two reactors in France with the capacity of 1100 MW. It should be noted that the efficiency of nuclear reactors owned by GDF SUEZ is recognised as one of the highest in the world and is over 90%.

GDF SUEZ is independent. It has the required know-how and facilities which make it possible to run the entire nuclear energy production process, including fuel (uranium) import and storage, uranium processing and enrichment, as well as spent fuel recycling. GDF SUEZ has the total of 196,500 employees throughout the world, including 3,500 experts in the field of nuclear power engineering. The company plans to employ another 1,400 nuclear power engineering experts by 2020.

Having wide experience in many different power engineering fields, GDF SUEZ clearly declares its position: nuclear energy is the energy of the future. There are many reasons which support this view, including the following:the fuel used in nuclear power plants - uranium - is an abundant natural resource.It is estimated that uranium reserves allow meeting demand of the nuclear power sector for over 100 years and its prices, unlike the prices of fossil fuels, have an insignificant impact on the price of one generated megawatt-hour.Furthermore, CO₂ is not emitted into the atmosphere during nuclear energy production, thus preventing global warming.

The above chart shows how many tons of CO₂ is emitted into the atmosphere per one generated GWh - depending on the fuel type.

GDF SUEZ
Safety is the priority

No secret is made of the fact that nuclear power continues to raise doubts. It is due, among others, to false stereotypes. Fortunately, people change their attitude towards nuclear power faster than expected. The more they know about nuclear power, the more inclined they become to support it. Eurobarometer 2008 surveys show that 2/3 of Europeans is able to list some benefits associated with nuclear energy, including for example the following:

• Stable and reliable energy supply source
• Diversity of reliable fuel (uranium) sources
• No links with changeable fuel markets
• Stable, predictable and competitive production costs
• Significant share in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
• Fossil fuel saving
• No CO₂ emission

To the abovementioned benefits GDF SUEZ adds safety - the priority of the company operation. The safety of operating nuclear power plant is of the key importance to GDF SUEZ as it in the interest of all the people.

GDF SUEZ has been meeting safety challenges for decades. The Group demonstrated that it is able to meet all the required safe operation guarantees which are in line with the most stringent requirements of independent auditors. For GDF SUEZ, continuous efforts to improve safety are not just an empty slogan but an everyday part of GDF SUEZ nuclear power plant operation, as the future of the entire Group depends on it.

GDF SUEZ nuclear power engineering is one of the most supervised human activities. Apart from numerous internal audits, rigorous external audits are conducted under the responsibility of the Federal Agency for Nuclear Oversight. Its representatives have unrestricted access to all nuclear power facilities owned by GDF SUEZ at all times.

GDF SUEZ
The future of nuclear power

By continuing to develop its capacity, GDF SUEZ plans to maintain its leading position on the European nuclear power market. The objective of the Group is to put into service new third-generation nuclear power plants.

GDF SUEZ participates in the construction of the second third-generation nuclear power reactor, the so-called European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), in France. The new reactor will be built in Penly in 2012 and commissioned in 2017. It will be the second such reactor in France and the third in Europe. Additionally, GDF SUEZ formed a consortium with Iberdola with the objective to build new nuclear power plants in the United Kingdom. GDF SUEZ was also invited to participate in the program aiming at the construction of two nuclear power units of Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania with the total capacity of 1400 MW.

Outside Europe, GDF SUEZ wants to strengthen its presence and produce nuclear energy in the regions in which the Group has already been active. The target is to have significant capacity by 2020. Currently, GDF SUEZ along with its partners, Areva and Total, submitted a proposal to the United Arab Emirates for the construction of two nuclear power units with the total capacity of 3200 MW. It is worth mentioning that in the Middle East GDF SUEZ has the installed capacity of over 12,000 MW in conventional power plants. It should be emphasised that countries with the largest fossil fuel resources turn to nuclear energy. It proves the significance of nuclear power. Moreover, GDF SUEZ is interested in development of three power plants in Brazil and nuclear projects in Chile.

GDF SUEZ
Let's rediscover energy

Nuclear power will help to solve energy problems. It not the only solution, but the one, which should be seriously considered. Nuclear power engineering is able to supply energy in a safe and reliable way, at competitive prices and without harmful CO₂ emission. Furthermore, it can contribute to the development of new technologies and tests, creation of new workplaces and in consequence to regional development. Rediscover energy with GDF SUEZ!

www.gdfsuez.com