French utility Electricite de France (1024251.FR) could face a legal challenge over the technology it has selected to build new nuclear power stations in the U.K., The Times of London reported Friday.
The newspaper cited Ros Kellaway, partner and head of E.U. competition law in Eversheds, as saying EdF's decision last year to use French nuclear energy group Areva (CEI.FR) without getting rival bids could be illegal under European Union law.
Kellaway cited an E.U. public procurement directive on the need for proper open competition for contracts in the power industry as well as the 1950s Euratom Treaty, the newspaper reported.
Kellaway added that there could also be grounds for a legal challenge over access to existing nuclear sites.
"There is a range of competition issues here that needs to be examined very carefully," The Times quoted her as saying.
EdF is the frontrunner for preliminary bids due Friday for U.K. nuclear power company British Energy Group PLC (BGY.LN).