British Energy not to be sold to one bidder

(photo: telegraph)

British Energy’s existing nuclear sites, such as Sizewell B in Suffolk, may be split between buyers.

The Government has ruled out selling British Energy to a lone bidder, despite the auction for the owner of Britain’s nuclear reactors drumming up interest only from France’s EDF by last Friday’s deadline.

The Daily Telegraph understands that the Government, which has a 35.2pc share in BE, is maintaining its position that no one body should have full ownership.

Sources said the Government would prefer to grant the winning company the sale of just six sites, thereby leaving the door open for another firm, such as Centrica, the only realistic British bidder, to acquire the remaining two.