Strategic assets
They are desperate for cash, even so one has to wonder about the merits of the Government sale of its 35% stake in British Energy to the French. I suppose they may be able to get round it in the same way as they got round selling all the airports to the Spanish: by changing their mind about monopoly ownership of strategic assets. Perhaps they will say later that the quid pro quo for BE is that all the UK's nuclear waste must be buried in France?
posted by Whispering Walls at 10:11 am
7 Comments:
Fat chance - it's the cash requirement, stoopid. The unbelievable short termism of Labour Governments never fails to astonish me - all the way from cancelling Blue Streak and TSR2 to flogging off the capability to actually build Nuclear power stations ( to the French) and now the airports and power generating. In France you would have noooo chance. Quite recently, Danone the food company was designated a national treasure. I mean it IS food and it IS France so I suppose that's ok.
Oh, and it's against EU rules, but hey, this is France
I'm not entirely sure what the problem is here ? Surely it makes more sense for the 'French state' to own the nuclear power stations, rather than, say, being wholly owned by Centrica, the other partner ?
If that happened, we could easily find that our nukes were owned by, say, Dubai International Capital, or that Malaysian geezer that owns 'Wessex [yeah, right] Water'..
Then it is a short step to them making a bit of dosh on the side selling a bit of extra plutonium..
This way only the Frogs get their paws on it - and now that Sarko is in charge, they are no longer cheese-eating surrender monkeys, but almost full partners in the 'war on terror' [so called..]
And I didn't notice too many people complaining when Vodafone bought out Airtouch in the States and D2 in Germany..
They probably will, WW!
Hi KL - at least the French have some decent values
Morning Anon-it seems strange to rely on a foreign govt for one's own nuclear power. I suppose they are just passing the investment buck. Still, I can't see what you have against Centrica - or do you think it may be bought by the Russians?
If only they would, WL!
The French have made a success of nuclear power and 80% of their electricity is sourced from power stations. We have a totally negative perception about them in the UK, I don't think they will ever win public support.
The French have always been the people we fought - usually with the Germans/Prussians/Hanoverians as allies. There's a lovely bit in the Film " The Charge of the Light Brigade" when John Gielgud the British Commander, wakes up and sees his courtyard full of French soldiers. Grabbing his sword he makes to attack them as the enemy, only being held back by his ADC.
And of course de Gaulle said "Non". Pity we couldn't take No for an answer
Oui, KL
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