Reuters reported that French utility EDF denied on Friday that it had made a preliminary bid for BG Group Plc's 65% stake in India's Gujarat Gas.

A source close to the matter had said earlier in the day that EDF, which wants to diversify its nuclear dominated power portfolio by building strong businesses in gas, coal, hydropower and renewables, had made a bid for the stake.

A spokeswoman said that "EDF denies having submitted an offer for BG's stake in Gujarat Gas and has no plans to do so.”

Sources told Reuters that BG received between six and seven bids earlier this week, including from India's Adani group, state run GAIL India and state run Gujarat State Petroleum Corp.

India's Economic Times reported on Friday said that bidders included German utility EON, US and UK based private equity firms and Indian utility Torrent Power.

BG India, a unit of the British oil and gas company, announced in November it was interested in selling its stake in Gujarat Gas, a western India focused gas distribution company, as part of a restructuring of its asset portfolio.

(Sourced from Reuters)