France's EDF to bid for Saudi nuclear reactors

Paris-based utility Electricité de France (EDF), which operates the country's 58 power reactors, is planning to bid for Saudi Arabia's two nuclear plants, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter.

EDF said it has been in talks with Saudi Arabia about selling Areva-designed European Pressurized Reactors (EPR), but has not confirm that it will make a formal bid.

The state-owned utility also aims to help the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) draft its nuclear energy program, the sources added.

Saudi Arabia had earlier issued a request for information to international suppliers to build two reactors, Argaam reported.

Saudi Arabia is reaching out to potential vendors from South Korea, China, France, Russia, Japan and the United States.

The world’s top oil exporter is considering building some 17.6 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2032, the equivalent of about 17 reactors.

Earlier this month, Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation has offered to build 16 nuclear power units in Saudi Arabia by 2030.