Oil giant BP says won't go nuclear

LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Oil major BP Plc (BP.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it would not enter the nuclear power business, despite a dearth of opportunities in conventional oil and gas pushing rivals into alternative energy sources including nuclear.

"We're not going to go into nuclear. We don't have any skills, any basis for doing that," Chief Executive Tony Hayward told a press conference in London.

Last month, the fourth-largest western oil major, France's Total (TOTF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), bid with partners to build two nuclear reactors in the United Arab Emirates.

Difficulties in finding new oil and gas fields to invest in has already prompted BP to invest in Canada's oil sands, a business that involves squeezing crude from bitumen-soaked soil. (Reporting by Tom Bergin, editing by Will Waterman)