LONDON, July 24, 2008 (AFP) - French energy giant EDF and Centrica will buy British Energy for about 12 billion pounds (15.2 billion euros, 23.9 billion dollars) and announce the deal early next week, reports said on Thursday.

A spokesman for nuclear power operator British Energy declined to comment while Centrica could not be immediately contacted.

'We hope it will be done in the next few days,' an executive close to the companies was quoted as saying on the BBC's news website, which added that the deal was not yet finalised and could still be delayed.

The Times newspaper, citing an adviser close to the matter, also reported that EDF and Centrica were edging closer to clinching the takeover.

A deal 'is not going to happen this week but it's getting closer,' one adviser was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Another adviser added that the deal could be completed before the end of July.

According to both reports, Centrica was in negotiations with EDF to be a minority partner in the acquisition and could pay around 3.0 billion pounds for a 25 percent holding.

Such a move would allay worries about the prized energy asset falling into French control.

British Energy's management wants EDF to pay more than 750 pence per share after it rejected its offer of 680 pence in May.

In mid-afternoon trading on Thursday, British Energy shares jumped 5.76 higher to 725.50 pence in reaction to the report.

British Energy is a partly privatised firm that is a third-owned by Britain's government, which wants to sell its interest.

It provides almost one fifth of Britain's electricity and owns and operates eight nuclear power stations. Centrica owns British Gas, which is the country's largest supplier of gas to homes.

French state-owned group EDF has been widely regarded for some time by analysts as the favourite to win a European battle to buy the group.

German power giant RWE has also been linked with a possible bid while Spain's Iberdrola has ruled out a move.