One of the world's biggest pension funds in the world, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, is interested in acquiring Urenco, the nuclear fuel production firm. The Sunday Times quoted no sources and at the same time CPPIB declined to make any comment.

Another company interested in Urenco is Comeco, a uranium producer based in Canada while Areva of France and Toshiba Corp of Japan were also drafting bids for the beleaguered firm. Urenco is co-owned by the Dutch and British governments as well as German utilities giants RWE and E.ON. The plan to sell was well underway until the Dutch government opposed the sale. This opposition was recently lifted.

Many analysts estimate the UK based uranium enrichment company is worth between Eur2.5 billion and Eur3.6 billion or US$3.27 billion and US$4.70 billion. Some though predict the price to be well worth Eur12 billion.

Both Urenco and Areva were not available for comment.