French government tries to push nuclear and electricity together

France wants their nuclear biggie plant builder Areva to team up with their humongous electric utility company, Electricite de France SA (EDF), to win contracts for nuclear plants in other countries. Apparently the Sarkozy government thinks they were competing.

Areva, EDF Need to `Get Along' to Foster Nuclear Exports, Lagarde Says

One suggestion:

Areva and EDF should modify the design of the new- generation EPR reactor and add smaller models to win contracts, according to the recommendations of the report. The reactor’s “complexity” is “a handicap” for its development and cost and may explain the difficulties the companies are facing in developing models in Finland and France, the report said.