Vasily Konuzin, head of Analytical Department of Alemar IFC

– The purchase of Nukem Technologies will help Atomstroyexport to enlarge its presence on the European market

NUKEM GmbH, Alzenau, has signed a contract to sell its subsidiary company NUKEM Technologies GmbH to the Russian ZAO Atomstroyexport, the world’s leading uranium trader said in a press release on August 14. NUKEM Technologies is active worldwide in engineering, management of radioactive waste and decommissioning nuclear facilities, and with these activities is “an outstanding match” for the portfolio of Atomstroyexport. The management of NUKEM GmbH is certain that it has selected a viable and strategic future investor for its subsidiary. CFO Dirk Martens said, “Atomstroyexport offers our colleagues in the engineering business the chance to further develop their activities and markets. So jobs at NUKEM Technologies are secured and can be expanded in connection with the global renaissance of nuclear energy.”

The purchase of Nukem Technologies will not only give Atomstroyexport access to the European technologies in the field of nuclear fuel disposal and NPP decommissioning but will also help the company to enlarge its presence on the European market. Even though presently the world is focused on NPP construction, one should not neglect the problem of waste treatment and NPP decommissioning. The purchase of Nukem Technologies will strengthen Atomstroyexport’s positions in this field and has demonstrated the company’s commitment to be leader in all segments of the nuclear energy market.

The key competitive advantage of Nukem Technologies is its serious experience in the field of disposal of radioactive waste and decommissioning of nuclear reactors. This experience complies with the highest ecological requirements of the European Union and Germany, in particular. Thus, Atomstroyexport will be able not only to adopt the high quality standards and the “green” technologies of Nukem but also to join in the projects of the German company (particularly, the project to decommission Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant).

The sale of Nukem Technologies will help Nukem GmbH to focus on nuclear fuel supplies. It seems that Nukem GbmH had neither investments nor sales markets for ensuring the profitability of its subsidiary – Nukem Technologies. In Atomstroyexport’s structure Nukem Technologies will be able to develop and to retain its staff.