* State agency warns of higher nuclear waste storage costs
* Andra estimate up to 30 bln euros, EDF estimate 20 bln
* One billion extra would boost EDF provisions 200 mln euros
* Energy minister will have to decide on waste provisions (Adds EDF statement, closing price)
[…]
In a report released late on Monday, Andra said costs for the Cigeo deep geological storage project could be as high as 30 billion euros or as low as 20 billion depending on assumptions about different cost factors in coming years.
“There are different views on the calculation, more or less conservative, depending on estimates for future technological progress and optimisation,” Andra said in a statement.
In a letter to the energy ministry, posted on the ministry’s website, EDF, fellow state-controlled company Areva and the CEA (Atomic Energy Authority) said they estimated the cost at around 20 billion euros.
[…]
In its 2014 financial reference document, EDF specifies that a 1 billion-euro increase in the Cigeo cost estimate would lead to an increase in provisions of about 200 million euros. (Additional reporting by Benjamin Mallet; Editing by Keith Weir, Greg Mahlich)
Read more at UPDATE 1-EDF sinks to all-time low as nuclear waste cost estimate soars
