France plans new energy champion

France is pressing Germany to abandon its hostility to nuclear power in return for a seat at the table in the creation of a new French-led energy champion. Fresh from agreeing the merger of government-owned Gaz de France with private utility Suez in early September to create a €70bn power group, France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy is now looking at creating a clear world leader in nuclear power through the restructuring of Areva, the state-held nuclear group.