The newspaper quoted a senior executive as saying the company is looking at a way out that would be “face-saving” for Russia and Siemens’ Chief Executive Peter Loescher, adding that a formal decision had not been made yet.
The FT said a number of executives had privately doubted the viability and business prospects of the venture even before a massive earthquake and tsunami last month damaged Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant.
“Fukushima will be an occasion to exit but not its reason,” the executive was quoted as saying.
Siemens and Rosatom in early 2009 announced plans to look at a closer cooperation in the field of atomic energy in what Russia said could lead to a powerful alliance.
The move triggered French Areva SA to threaten former partner Siemens with legal action as the German conglomerate owns 34 percent in Areva NP, a nuclear power joint venture with Areva, and is contractually banned from competing with Areva until 2020.
In late 2009, Areva said a court had blocked the tie-up plans of Siemens and Rosatom until the French and German companies complete mediation over the price of the German group’s exit from Areva NP.
Siemens has said that the ruling also effectively kept the company from making any comments about Rosatom and related topics, which was confirmed by a spokesman.
“Our company is currently involved in arbitration court proceedings related to the exit of Siemens from the Areva NP joint venture. In this context we are obligated — as has been announced — to refrain from making any public statements regarding either the joint venture or future activities in this field,” the spokesman said.
Rosatom was not immediately available for comment.
