LONDON (AFP) - Nuclear power operator British Energy said Friday that it has received several offers from parties interested in the company as Britain prepares major new atomic energy investment.

British Energy "was in discussions with interested parties in the context of its future and its plans to take a pivotal part in any new nuclear programme," it said in a statement.

It did not identify the companies involved, saying only that the board "has decided that discussions should continue with all the parties concerned.

"Each of the proposals requires further development and ... the process is therefore likely to continue for a number of weeks," it added.

It said several offers for the company were priced above 680 pence per share, the closing price on Thursday.

Recent press reports have said state-owned French power company EDF had submitted an offer for British Energy and bought land near two existing nuclear sites in England and Wales.

Friday is the deadline for bids for the government's 35.2 percent stake in British Energy, which provides nearly 19 percent of the country's electricity. It owns and operates eight nuclear power stations.

German power giants RWE and E.ON plus Spain's Iberdola have also been named as possible bidders.

The government approved a new generation of nuclear power stations in January this year, signalling that they were likely to be built on or near existing sites primarily by private firms.

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