EDF Interested in Russian Uranium

Electricite de France, the world's biggest nuclear-power producer, is interested in mining uranium in Russia, Sergei Kiriyenko, chief executive of Rosatom said.

EDF held talks on taking part in developing the Elkonsky uranium deposit in Russia's Far East, Kiriyenko said in Moscow in comments confirmed by Rosatom spokesman Sergei Novikov.

The Elkonsky field is Russia's largest untapped source of uranium, which is processed to make fuel for nuclear plants.

Rosatom's mining unit, Uranium Holding ARMZ, said last year that it would cost 90 billion rubles ($2.5 billion) to develop Elkonsky, which could produce 5,000 tons of uranium per year.

The state corporation plans to form a group of investors to develop the deposit, with the government retaining a controlling stake in the project.