Electricite de France, one of the world's most prominent operators of nuclear reactors, has reported a 6.7% rise in sales for the first nine months of the current year. Despite, a surge in sales, the company has trimmed its complete year earnings target because of lower nuclear output.

Sales for the year's nine months up-to September 30 hiked to 48.3 Billion Euros ($72.4 Billion) from 45.3 Billion Euros recorded for the same period last year. Also, the company in which the state currently holds a 84.8% stake, lowered its full year earnings for the current year "close to the 2008 level" as compared to the previous estimate of a "moderate growth" for the year.

In the past few months, France, which relies on nuclear power for as much as 80% of its electricity, has seen a rapid decline in its availability due to strikes in Spring which resulted in delayed maintenance and a rising number of unplanned outages.

EDF, which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, recorded the latest share value of 37.95 Euros, valuing the company at just under 70 Billion Euros.