Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) has delayed shortlisting bidders for the UAE nuclear project by several days, according to sources close to the scheme.

Enec had planned to shortlist two out of three bidders for the project at the end of August. It has not specified when this will now happen.

The corporation is due to award the contract for the UAE’s first nuclear power plant on 16 September.

The bidders include a French team of Areva, GdF Suez and Total, which has picked the US’ Bechtel Corporation and France’s Vinci as its contractors; a consortium of the US’ GE and Japan’s Hitachi; and a South Korean team of Korea Electric Power Corporation and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, with Samsung Corporation as its contractor (MEED 31:7:09).

Enec declined to comment.