UAE nuclear project award in H2: Total

The United Arab Emirates will likely award a contract for the construction of two nuclear reactors in the second half of 2009, a senior executive at French oil major Total (TOTF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Thursday.

Total, which is jointly bidding with GDF Suez (GSZ.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) for the project, reckons it can win the multi-billion dollar deal, Jean-Jacques Mosconi, head of strategy and planning at Total, told the Reuters Energy Summit.

"Yes, we are hopeful about the decision. We know there's competition but we think we have a good file to propose to Abu Dhabi because we have been there for decades in onshore and offshore business," he said.