EDF, GDF, Areva prime for part privatisation

PARIS, Jan 21 (AFP) – French Finance Minister Herve Gaymard has asked Electricite de France, its sister company Gaz de France, and nuclear group Areva, to prepare to open up their capital this year, he told France Inter radio Friday.

Gaymard said he would not speed up sales of capital in state-owned companies but that he would respect a calendar already established, while objecting to use of the word privatisation.

“It is clear that EDF and GDF will not be privatised, because the law says we can open the capital of these two great national companies up to a limit of 30 percent,” Gaymard said.

“For Areva, we will also open up some of its capital.”