Total and Eni, two of Europe's biggest oil and gas companies, each plans to bring nuclear power to countries in the Middle East in what would be a contentious shift in an industry being squeezed out of many of the biggest oil and gas fields.

Total planned to help build nuclear power plants with a view to negotiating better terms and access in the oil and gas industry in countries with which it has long relationships, Christophe de Margerie, chief executive, told the Financial Times.