Areva South Africa has put a bid to build the first nuclear power plant in Tanzania. It will also be the first in the East African region, reports The East African.

Tanzania, which depends on hydropower plants faces frequent power shortages.

SA Areva, a member of the French multinational Areva group, says it will produce clean energy in Tanzania through the construction of a nuclear power plant pending the conclusion of negotiations with the government.

Other companies will also be bidding for contracts to build nuclear energy capability.

There is renewed interest world-wide in nuclear energy, driven by the growing demand for energy among the fast growing emerging economic powers.

But the Atomic Energy Commission in Arusha says extensive preparations are needed before Tanzania adopt nuclear power plant development.