AREVA and Mitsubuishi Heavy Industries have launched a nuclear technology, sales & marketing joint venture ATMEA.

ATMEA’s main product will be ATMEA 1, a new 1,100MWe pressurized water reactor which combines new and existing technology from both parent companies.

The partners have been working together since October 2006 to define the conceptual basis for such a “generation 3” nuclear reactor, and hope to have the new product ready for licensing application in less than three years.

Stefan vom Scheidt has been appointed chief executive officer of the new Paris-based venture; Makoto Kanda is appointed deputy chief executive.

“By founding ATMEA, we combine the experience of two leaders in reactor development, construction, licensing and marketing. We thus provide the ideal framework for the development and sale of a reactor whose size fits into almost every grid,” said Anne Lauvergeon, chief executive officer of AREVA.

Kazuo Tsukuda, president of MHI, said, "By bringing together the state-of-the-art technologies of both companies, we are confident that ATMEA 1 will be the leading plant in the mid-size reactor range.”