LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Centrica PLC is considering calling for a judicial review to overturn a government decision which excludes most energy companies from the contest to build the world's first green coal plant, The Observer reported citing industry sources.

John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, last week favoured an alternative clean coal technology, making redundant plans developed by Shell, Scottish and Southern Energy, Conoco-Philips and Marathon Oil, as well as Centrica, at a cost of nearly 100 mln stg.

Centrica's chief executive Sam Laidlaw is writing a formal letter of complaint to Hutton, the newspaper said, in which it is understood he will say business confidence in developing expensive green technologies has been "profoundly shaken" by the decision.

He could also take the unprecedented step of leading industry calls for a judicial review to overturn the decision, according to industry sources, The Observer added. paul.sandle@thomson.com ps/hjp

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