Britain's two nuclear electricity generators have signed an agreement to develop a new generation of reactors.
British Energy and British Nuclear Fuels say the agreement was a "significant step forward" in building replacement nuclear power stations in the UK.
The move is the first concrete commitment from the two companies since the recent publication of a British Government report, which gave cautious backing to new investment in nuclear stations.
Mr Robin Jeffrey, British Energy's chairman, says the UK Government's energy review had helped signal a positive future for the nuclear industry.
He says: "Today's agreement will assess licensing and regulatory issues and deliver robust cost estimates for the new stations we propose."
BNFL chief executive Mr Norman Askew says the company has already developed one of the world's most advanced reactor technology systems, which is now ready for deployment.
PA
