EDF may lead French consortium in Abu Dhabi-report

PARIS, Nov 25 (Reuters) - French state-owned power group EDF (EDF.PA) could lead a consortium including Areva (CEPFi.PA), GDF Suez (GSZ.PA) and Total (TOTF.PA) bidding to build nuclear reactors in Abu Dhabi, French daily Les Echos reports.

Further details were not immediately available.

Reuters got an advanced copy of the front page of Les Echos' Thursday edition.

Areva has teamed up with GDF Suez and Total to bid for a contract worth up to $40 billion to build several nuclear power reactors in the United Arab Emirates.

The French team who was originally seen as the front-runner for the deal has appeared in recent weeks to be losing ground to a rival bid by South Korean groups.

This was despite EDF joining the consortium late following what sources close to the matter have said was a request by the UAE to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

In a Nov. 18 interview with Les Echos, Henri Proglio, who officially became the new CEO of EDF on Wednesday, suggested the weak leadership of the French nuclear industry was partly to blame. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; editing by Andre Grenon) ((dominique.vidalon.reuters.com; +33 1 49495432; Reuters Messaging:dominique.vidalon.reuters.com@reuters.net))