popular articles

France: Six companies fined for dismantling cartel

The French competition authority sanctions six companies suspected of collusion in nuclear site dismantling operations, highlighting anti-competitive practices and cost issues in the sector.
entente nucléaire amende

Please share:

The French competition authority has fined six companies suspected of “collusion” in nuclear site dismantling operations at Marcoule (Gard), for a total of 31 million euros, the authority announced on its website.

Nuclear dismantling companies fined 31 million euros

The decision published on Thursday concerns Nuvia Process (a subsidiary of the Vinci group), Endel (a former subsidiary of Engie), Bouygues Construction Expertises nucléaires (BCEN), SNEF and SPIE Nucléaire,

six companies active in “the engineering, maintenance, dismantling and nuclear waste treatment services sector”, said the competition watchdog.

Penalties were imposed according to the seriousness of the facts: 13.9 million euros for Nuvia, 11 million euros for Endel (now a subsidiary of Altrad), 6.2 million euros for BCEN, 20,000 euros for SNEF and 10,000 euros for SPIE. Total penalties amounted to 31.239 million euros.

The Bouygues group declined to comment, and the other companies contacted by AFP (Engie and Vinci) did not respond.

Anti-competitive practices in nuclear dismantling revealed

Specifically, the authority accuses them of “exchanging commercially sensitive information with a view to responding to certain invitations to tender organized by the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique (CEA) for various installations” at its Marcoule nuclear site, “in order to agree on the price levels to be offered and to share out the contracts”.

These “anti-competitive” practices were “structured” and “kept secret”, said the authority, noting, for example, that “certain participants” used personal e-mail addresses or those belonging to their family circle.

“Such practices are among the most serious breaches of competition rules, as they aim to confiscate, for the benefit of the perpetrators, the advantages that consumers and the public entity are entitled to expect from a competitive economy”, commented the gendarme.

Astronomical Cost of Nuclear Decommissioning in Full Light: 46.4 billion Euros

In particular, these practices were revealed as part of a “leniency procedure”, a process during which a company that has taken part in a cartel agrees to reveal its existence to the authorities.

In this case, Onet, a nuclear services provider, benefited from this “leniency procedure” and provided evidence to the investigation, which was subsequently supplemented by visits, seizures and hearings, enabling it to escape sanctions.

The dismantling of nuclear sites, which can take decades to complete, represents a colossal market. As envisaged by EDF, Orano and CEA, the cost of decommissioning amounted to 46.4 billion euros at the end of 2018, according to a report by the Cour des Comptes in 2020.

Why does it matter?

The French competition authority has fined six companies a total of €31 million for cartelizing nuclear dismantling operations at Marcoule.

These anti-competitive practices impact costs and transparency in the nuclear decommissioning sector, raising concerns about the management of public contracts and competitiveness in the nuclear energy industry.

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

Japanese operator Tepco has completed the extraction of a second radioactive debris sample from the damaged Fukushima reactor, a critical technical step in a decommissioning project set to span several decades.
US-based enCore Energy continues to optimise its uranium project in Texas with a record installation rate and strengthened leadership team.
US-based enCore Energy continues to optimise its uranium project in Texas with a record installation rate and strengthened leadership team.
Framatome has commissioned a new facility in Romans-sur-Isère to secure long-term production of research reactor fuels and medical isotopes.
Framatome has commissioned a new facility in Romans-sur-Isère to secure long-term production of research reactor fuels and medical isotopes.
EDF reconnected the Flamanville EPR nuclear reactor to the power grid on 19 April, two days ahead of schedule, following a series of technical maintenance works and adjustments on critical components.
EDF reconnected the Flamanville EPR nuclear reactor to the power grid on 19 April, two days ahead of schedule, following a series of technical maintenance works and adjustments on critical components.
TerraPower has informed the UK regulator of its intention to submit the Natrium reactor design for evaluation under the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process, the first step toward international deployment of this nuclear technology.
Framatome and Sizewell C have signed a contract for the supply, qualification, and pre-assembly of conventional instrumentation for the EPR reactors under construction at Sizewell, strengthening their collaboration on this large-scale project.
Framatome and Sizewell C have signed a contract for the supply, qualification, and pre-assembly of conventional instrumentation for the EPR reactors under construction at Sizewell, strengthening their collaboration on this large-scale project.
Uzbekistan has launched the construction of auxiliary buildings for its future modular nuclear reactor, the first export project for the Russian RITM-200N technology.
Uzbekistan has launched the construction of auxiliary buildings for its future modular nuclear reactor, the first export project for the Russian RITM-200N technology.
Holtec International has submitted its final proposal to Great British Nuclear as part of the competition to deploy several small modular reactors in the UK, joining GE Hitachi and Rolls-Royce SMR in the decisive phase.
Holtec International has submitted its final proposal to Great British Nuclear as part of the competition to deploy several small modular reactors in the UK, joining GE Hitachi and Rolls-Royce SMR in the decisive phase.
The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 17 April, has now been postponed to 21 April following extended maintenance operations, according to a statement from Électricité de France.
EDF announced on April 10 the extension of the shutdown of the Flamanville EPR nuclear reactor, initially scheduled to restart on April 12, due to new maintenance operations within its nuclear zone.
EDF announced on April 10 the extension of the shutdown of the Flamanville EPR nuclear reactor, initially scheduled to restart on April 12, due to new maintenance operations within its nuclear zone.
The French National Assembly has launched a mission to analyse nuclear pricing and anticipate the effects of the 2026 tariff reform amid heightened tensions over energy costs.
The French National Assembly has launched a mission to analyse nuclear pricing and anticipate the effects of the 2026 tariff reform amid heightened tensions over energy costs.
GE Hitachi and Rolls-Royce SMR have submitted their final offer as part of the modular reactor selection process led by Great British Nuclear in the United Kingdom.
GE Hitachi and Rolls-Royce SMR have submitted their final offer as part of the modular reactor selection process led by Great British Nuclear in the United Kingdom.
Washington and Abu Dhabi pave the way for renewed civil nuclear cooperation, aiming to strengthen Emirati technological and energy capabilities within a complex regional strategic context.
Duke Energy has submitted a request to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to extend the operation of its Robinson plant by 20 years, supporting energy stability in the Carolinas.
Duke Energy has submitted a request to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to extend the operation of its Robinson plant by 20 years, supporting energy stability in the Carolinas.
India's largest power producer, NTPC, paves the way for small modular reactors to modernize its aging energy infrastructure and strengthen energy security through significant international partnerships.
India's largest power producer, NTPC, paves the way for small modular reactors to modernize its aging energy infrastructure and strengthen energy security through significant international partnerships.
EDF has delayed the restart of the Flamanville EPR to 11 April, citing a new maintenance operation, while keeping its 2025 production forecast unchanged.
EDF has delayed the restart of the Flamanville EPR to 11 April, citing a new maintenance operation, while keeping its 2025 production forecast unchanged.
EDF's plan to build a facility for recycling low-level radioactive metals in Fessenheim is raising significant concerns over health, economics and regulation.
enCore Energy extracted 50,000 pounds of uranium in March from its Alta Mesa site in Texas, while consolidating its operations through strategic leadership appointments.
enCore Energy extracted 50,000 pounds of uranium in March from its Alta Mesa site in Texas, while consolidating its operations through strategic leadership appointments.
Canada's nuclear regulator has issued Ontario Power Generation a construction licence for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor at the Darlington site, marking a key step in the province’s nuclear development.
Canada's nuclear regulator has issued Ontario Power Generation a construction licence for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor at the Darlington site, marking a key step in the province’s nuclear development.
Despite severe Western sanctions targeting Russian energy, Rosatom continues its international nuclear projects and maintains a steady flow of enriched uranium to Europe and the United States, thus supporting the Russian economy through an effective diversification strategy.
Despite severe Western sanctions targeting Russian energy, Rosatom continues its international nuclear projects and maintains a steady flow of enriched uranium to Europe and the United States, thus supporting the Russian economy through an effective diversification strategy.
Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe has signed a development agreement with the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium, ensuring continuity of Poland's first nuclear plant project after a previous contract expired.
Fermi Energia has signed a strategic agreement with Samsung C&T to develop two small modular reactors in Estonia, targeting commercial operation by 2035.
Fermi Energia has signed a strategic agreement with Samsung C&T to develop two small modular reactors in Estonia, targeting commercial operation by 2035.
China National Nuclear Corporation mobilizes international investors and financial partners for a unique nuclear project combining two distinct technologies to simultaneously supply industrial heat and electricity, marking a new strategic step for China's energy industry.
China National Nuclear Corporation mobilizes international investors and financial partners for a unique nuclear project combining two distinct technologies to simultaneously supply industrial heat and electricity, marking a new strategic step for China's energy industry.
Framatome and TechnicAtome have acquired Segault, a strategic nuclear valve manufacturer, thereby blocking a takeover by the American firm Flowserve following opposition from the French government.
Framatome and TechnicAtome have acquired Segault, a strategic nuclear valve manufacturer, thereby blocking a takeover by the American firm Flowserve following opposition from the French government.

Advertising