LOC19:06
16:06 GMT
PARIS, April 15 (KUNA) -- French state-controlled nuclear group, AREVA, said on Tuesday that it was retained as a "preferred bidder" by UK nuclear entity Sellafield Ltd. as part of a consortium to build a plant to process radioactive waste in Britain.
The French company, in which Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) has a minority stake, is forming a consortium called A.M.A. with British companies Mace and Atkins to supply the treatment plant once the "Preferred Bidder Clarification" and contract confirmation process is completed by Sellafield.
No value for the contract was given by AREVA.
"The A.M.A. joint venture will complete the engineering design, procurement, construction, and commissioning-related activities for the facility", AREVA said in a statement.
The operations at the new plant will involve processing of metallic Magnox fuel which is radioactive and generated by the Sellafield nuclear plant in northwest England.
AREVA will provide its expertise in nuclear facility operations, engineering design and waste management, the statement noted.
The final contract must get approval from the British nuclear authority before being implemented.
On Monday, AREVA announced a smaller contract to refurbish equipment for two units in South Korea's Kori plant.
KIA took a 4.8 percent stake in AREVA in December 2010 in a capital increase operation that also included a fresh investment by the French government. (end)
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