Entergy’s expected contract award to Framatome ANP for replacement steam generators for Arkansas ANO-1 has prompted Babcock & Wilcox Canada to file a lawsuit alleging that Framatome ANP has illegally transferred B &W technology to its French affiliate, Framatome, to design and manufacture the components.
In the suit filed in July, B&W Canada says Framatome ANP could not fulfil its contract unless the steam generators were fabricated by Framatome, and that Framatome could not make them without “misappropriating” the once-through steam generator technology used by B&W Canada.
Framatome ANP dismissed the claims as untrue. Spokeswoman Susan Hess described the suit as “without merit”, and said that the company would aggressively defend its rights.