Ten firms may compete for the work to build the UK’s first nuclear reactor.

French utilities giant EDF Energy will issue tenders for two civils packages in June for the UK’s first nuclear reactor, to the value of £700 million.

The first new nuclear construction contracts will kickstart EDF’s £16bn nuclear programme in the UK, which will see at least four new European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) being built, with the first operational by the end of 2017.

It is understood that around ten firms will be in the running to win the contracts, with some in joint venture. According to Contract Journal, these are:

• Balfour Beatty / Vinci
• Bouygues / Laing O’Rourke
• Kier / BAM Nuttall
• Costain / Sir Robert McAlpine
• Carillion
• Skanska
• Morgan Est

EDF has confirmed that it will hold a UK nuclear suppliers forum in London on 30 June to tell UK suppliers which contracts will be let first, how they will be packaged and how they can maximise their chances of winning a slice of the work.

The two packages are a £100m preparatory works contract, which will be let this autumn and a civils package, estimated to be around £500m, which will be let by the end of the year.

EDF has not yet revealed where the first reactor is to be built, yet has indicated Hinckley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk as possible sites for the first of four new nuclear reactors.