Anne Lauvergeon, Areva chief executive, declared an end to years of uncertainty over France’s nuclear champion as the state-owned group unveiled plans to raise €10bn ($14bn) through disposals and the sale of a 15 per cent stake to strategic partners.

Referring to the host of strategic possibilities examined by the French state in recent years for the development of Areva – from a break-up to a merger with Alstom turbines group – Ms Lauvergeon said: “Today all that is over.”