The UAE has delayed awarding a $41 billion (BD15.5 billion) contract to build nuclear power plants saying that the decision between the three rival bidders was too close to call.

“What happened ultimately was some of the bids were so close in some areas, we decided to proceed with all three,” a senior government official said. “It will mean a slightly longer period of negotiations.”

The decision on the contract, which was due to be awarded tomorrow, will not come out until the end of the month, according to a report in our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News.

A French group led by Areva, Electricite de France, GDF Suez and Total is competing against a Japanese-American alliance of Hitachi and General Electric, and a Korean-American consortium comprising Korea Electric Power, Samsung, Hyundai and US firm Westinghouse.