PARIS, August 13, 2008 (AFP) - French electricity group EDF said on Wednesday its board had given approval for the company to raise its interest in US firm Constellation Energy from 4.97 percent to 9.9 percent.

EDF, controlled by the French state and the biggest generator of nuclear power in the world, and Constellation Energy, intend to operate jointly nuclear power stations of the European pressurised reactor (EPR) type in the United States.

'EDF (Electricite de France) will progressively use this type of authorisation to proceed with new share purchases, taking account of opportunities offered by market conditions,' it said.

EDF might even raise its holding beyond the 9.9-percent level, it said.

EDF and Constellation Energy are members of a consortium called NuStart Energy Development LLC, created in March 2004, and involving 10 other groups, with the inention of promoting the production of nuclear power in the United States within 10 years.