Following Otrera’s favorable integration decision in response to the Public Investment Bank’s (BPI) “Innovative Nuclear Reactors” call for projects, numerous dispatches and articles have been published in recent hours.
We begin this press review with an article titled “Nuclear: Nearly 100 Million Euros for Six French Innovative Reactor Projects” published in GEO magazine, November 27, 2023: “These six projects include the GTA project led by the startup Jimmy Energy (high-temperature microreactor for industrial heat production), RF01 by Renaissance Fusion (compact deuterium-tritium fusion reactor), and Calogena (modular reactor for urban heating networks). The other three are Hexana (fast neutron reactor for heat and electricity production), Otrera (fast neutron reactor enabling spent fuel recycling), and Blue Capsule (high-temperature reactor).”
Le Figaro published a particularly interesting analytical article signed by Elsa Bembaron, which highlights the origin of the projects and distinguishes between startups like ours and those originating from large groups. Here is the quote mentioning Otrera: “Other teams have opted for disruptive technologies, such as Otrera, founded by a team of former CEA members, who chose to develop a dual fast neutron reactor system.”
This choice was also made by La Tribune, where Juliette Raynal provides a more segmented analysis of the situation and highlights the model championed by Jimmy company.
The newspaper La Croix, penned by Jean-Claude Bourbon, also produced a detailed article on the results of the call for projects, which more broadly discusses the revival of industrial activity around nuclear power, including the challenge of remobilizing retirees.
Muriel Motte, from L’Opinion, provides a very relevant contextual analysis by recalling the importance for France to mobilize globally to rehabilitate nuclear power: “This nuclear-focused start to the week for the minister is part of a broader French strategy aimed at rehabilitating nuclear energy in the production of decarbonized energy. In Europe, Agnès Pannier-Runacher is the leader of a nuclear alliance that influences all negotiations, from taxonomy to electricity market reform. With a major summit of nuclear leaders, set to convene in Belgium next spring, as a political objective. Among a series of initiatives, the nuclear alliance sent a letter to the Brussels Commission in early November, aiming to create a European industrial alliance to stimulate investment in SMR production.”
Nicolas Stiel publishes in Challenges a recap of the facts and complements the analysis by highlighting the challenges ahead, particularly concerning the decarbonization of certain industries.
Last but not least, Aurélie Barbaux, who has already mentioned the Otrera topic several times and monitors the subject at Usine Nouvelle, published one of the most comprehensive documents on the subject.
The Reuters dispatch was published on the websites of Les Echos, Market Screener, and many others.