French power and utility company GDF Suez (GZS.FR) will apply to handle a potential third European pressurized reactor, or EPR, in France, Deputy Chief Executive Jean-Francois Cirelli said Friday in an interview with French television channel France 24.
"France needs a third EPR," Cirelli said, after President Nicolas Sarkozy said Thursday a second EPR would be built near Penly, Normandy, by state-controlled electricity company Electricite de France (1024251.FR), along with GDF Suez, which would have a minority stake.
Cirelli said Europe must diversify its energy sources and natural gas routes, following the recent crisis over Russian gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine.
Cirelli also said that natural gas prices in France should fall this year, as the gas that will be sold this year was acquired by GDF Suez from September, when energy prices started to drop on the markets along with crude oil prices.