* To double investment this year in 9 bln euro plan to 2020
* Sees scope 1-1.5 bln euros in M&A deals in next 2 years
* FY current operating profit 739 million euros vs 2009 loss
* Says bullish for early 2011, stresses metals volatility
* Sceptical about idea of Areva tie-up, prefers partnerships
(Adds investment, M&A outlook, Areva tie-up)
By Gus Trompiz
PARIS, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Eramet is to double investments this year to benefit from booming demand from emerging countries and the French mining group said it preferred to go it alone, dampening speculation of a tie up with Areva. The company expects to make around 9 billion euros in industrial investment over the 2011-2020 period, including 600 million euros this year, Chief Executive Patrick Buffet said on Thursday after his group swung back to profit in 2010.
"We envisage a sharp acceleration in our expansion and are aiming to almost double industrial investments in 2011 to cover modernisation and organic growth, as well as to pursue major transformational projects," he told a news conference.
The CEO said Eramet had the means to pursue its development alone and did not see the benefit of a tie-up with the uranium mines of state-owned nuclear group Areva, an idea floated by French officials.
Eramet preferred to continue cooperating in specific areas with companies including Areva, which is also Eramet's second-largest shareholder, he said.
"It is better to have two champions that are leaders in their markets and who cooperate, rather than a single group that is forced to split up part of its activities," Buffet said.
He said he not been contacted about a potential tie-up.
Shares in Eramet were down 3 percent to 268.35 euros by 1343 GMT, having fallen sharply after Buffet's comments on Areva.
ACQUISITIONS
The group is confident that growth from emerging economies, led by China, would continue to drive demand for its metal ore and alloys, although the CEO was cautious about volatility partly due to a shift by big miners towards short-term pricing.
"We are driven to a large extent by this demand from emerging countries in terms of construction, urbanisation and industrialisation," said Buffet, who declined to set earnings goals, only citing a "favourable" outlook for early 2011.
A global economic rebound fuelled demand for nickel and manganese ore last year, which are mainly used in stainless and carbon steel respectively.
The firm's alloys division saw a pick-up in the fourth quarter supported by increased orders from aircraft manufacturers, Eramet said.
Eramet's solid financial position gave it the scope to pursue targeted acquisitions, with the potential for 1-1.5 billion euros in deals in the next two years, over and above its industrial investments, Buffet said.
Areas of interest included manganese acquisitions in South Africa and deals to extend alloy production to low-cost and dollar-zone countries, Buffet added.
The group's big projects include the Weda Bay nickel deposit Indonesia, which Eramet is exploring in partnership with Japan's Mistsubishi Corp.
The company, which is due to decide by the end of 2012 whether to go ahead with the mining project, said it was looking at developing production of 35,000 tonnes of nickel capacity in a first phase compared to estimated potential of 65,000 tonnes.
The new site could in future double the group's nickel output. Its production is currently based in New Caledonia, where the company aims to increase output to 65,000 tonnes in 2014 from 57,000 tonnes seen this year.
Eramet posted a full-year current operating income of 739 million euros ($1 billion), versus an operating loss of 163 million euros in 2009 and the average forecast of 681 million from a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll of analysts.
It plans a 94-percent dividend increase to 3.50 euros a share. (Additional reporting by Marie Maitre; Editing by Will Waterman and Jane Merriman) ($1=.7390 Euro)