French engineering giant Alstom is planning to relocate from France to Mexico production of a part used for nuclear power plants, a union source told AFP Thursday.

Alstom plans to shut its plant in the eastern town of Belfort that manufactures blades used for nuclear turbines as part of an overall plan to shed some 4,000 jobs worldwide, French unions CGT, CFE-CGC and CFTC said.

The group aims to relocate blade production to its plants in Switzerland as well as to Mexico, according to Jacques Rambur, CGT representative for Alstom Power in Belfort.

Reached by AFP, Alstom Power declined to comment on its plans before meetings that begin February 28.

"No decision has been announced," said CFE-CGC representative Dominique Jeannenot.

Alstom relocated production of another turbine component from Belfort to Mexico several years ago.