French state-controlled nuclear engineering group Areva SA (CEI.FR) Friday signed a strategic partnership for its nuclear reactor program with U.K. power systems provider Rolls-Royce Group PLC (RR.LN).

The deal gives Rolls-Royce a role in France 's plans to deploy its nuclear technology around the world as countries look to expand their nuclear power fleets and seek to cut emissions from fossil fuels.

"We are delighted that Rolls-Royce, a worldwide symbol of excellence, will become a major industrial partner of Areva," Areva Chief Executive Anne Lauvergeon said after the signing ceremony in London .

"We want solid relationships with a series of international companies that can work with us globally. We are looking for strong ties and this new agreement is a major step in the direction," she added.

Under the deal, Rolls-Royce will manufacture in the U.K. key components for Areva's new third generation 1,600 megawatt EPR nuclear reactors that will be used in the U.K. and elsewhere.

There were no further details on the type of components or the value of the partnership.

The partnership is good news for the U.K., which is in the midst of a revival of its nuclear power fleet as most of the country's aging nuclear power stations are due to close over the next 10 to 15 years leaving a potential power shortfall.

"This will deliver benefits to the U.K. and will further enhance the export potential in this fast growing sector," said Rolls-Royce Chief Executive John Rose.

The U.K. government sees nuclear power as a low-carbon alternative to building more coal and gas-fired power plants and is counting on nuclear to help meet its ambitious climate change targets on cutting emissions.

France 's Electricite de France SA (EDF.FR) is leading the nuclear revival in the U.K. with Areva and aims to have its first new nuclear power plant commercially operational in 2018.

In the U.K. Areva is also competing to supply a further four reactors to E.ON AG (EOAN.XE) and RWE AG (RWE.XE) joint venture Horizon Nuclear Power and is in talks with nuclear consortium NuGen, that includes Iberdola SA (IBE.MC), GDF Suez SA (GSZ.FR) and Scottish and Southern Energy PLC (SSE.LN).

Areva also has an agreement with the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to act as its manufacturing sourcing hub to identify other British manufacturing companies that want to enter the civil nuclear market for the first time.

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