As per the media reports, EDF, a major French utility is mulling to increase its capital for venture projects in the UK nuclear sector.

The company might accept to offload a further 20 percent stake in British Energy. Already, a 20 percent stake was sold by the French utility in British Energy, a nuclear power company, to Centrica. As per speculations, EDF requires raising more money because of the additional capital wanted to fund another nuclear programme, as well as pay off some of the company's existing debt.

Though no authentic details have been issued regarding which companies may be interested in the 20 percent stake, some reports have specified the names of Morgan Stanley or the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund.

However, these reports were denied by a spokesman for EDF, who said that the company held no immediate plans to sell any more shares in the UK nuclear company. Last year, the company purchased the shares for £12.5bn.

Furthermore, it is also expected that EDF will soon arrive at a decision shortly on its distribution business - also based in the UK. The distribution business, which has been on the market since this summer, could earn the company £2.7bn in extra capital.

"The extra capital EDF is seeking is most likely to be used to build four planned nuclear reactors in the UK, which would replace several existing nuclear reactors scheduled to retire over the next decade. EDF also has debts from their acquisition of British Energy, as well as an acquisition of an American company, Constellation Energy," said a source.