French utility GDF Suez SA's (GSZ.FR) capacity to generate nuclear power may increase by 2020 to the equivalent of between three and four EPR reactors, a company executive said Thursday.
Paul Rorive, senior vice president of the company's Nuclear Activities division, made the comment during a presentation to reporters.
The EPR is a so-called "third generation" reactor, designed by French nuclear group Areva SA (CEI.FR).
GDF Suez is promoting itself as a major player in an anticipated worldwide renaissance of nuclear power, as countries seek to secure their energy supplies and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
The company has made "preliminary" contacts in Europe with Hungary, Italy, Poland and Slovakia as it studies potential markets in which to develop nuclear power, Rorive said.
Outside of Europe, that list extends to Brazil, Chile, the U.S. and Thailand, he said in the presentation.
Rorive also said there's "a lot of interest" in the U.K.'s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority auction for land suitable for building new nuclear power stations.
"Prices are rising," he said.
GDF Suez is participating in the auction, a spokeswoman for the company confirmed.
The process of disposing of land adjacent to three existing nuclear sites at Wylfa, Oldbury and Bradwell began when online bidding was launched March 16.
In February, GDF Suez and Spanish peer Iberdrola SA (IBE.MC) announced a partnership to jointly develop nuclear power stations in the U.K. along with Scottish and Southern Energy PLC (SSE.LN).
With its partners, GDF Suez aims to build one or two EPR reactors in the U.K. by 2020, Rorive said in his presentation.
Separately, he said GDF Suez anticipates a decision from the United Arab Emirate of Abu Dhabi concerning its planned bid to develop new nuclear capacity there by the end of 2009.
In January 2008, GDF Suez agreed with Areva and oil major Total SA (TOT) to form a consortium to bid on building nuclear reactors in the U.A.E.
The state is looking for a strategic partner to build and operate at least four nuclear reactors there, according to the GDF Suez presentation.
A nuclear project in Romania, in which GDF Suez has a 9.15% stake, should be operational in 2016, Rorive also said.