Dominant French gas utility Gaz de France has reported a 34% boom in second quarter sales largely due to continued price increases.

Gaz de France has unveiled its consolidated sales for the second quarter of 2006 were E5 billion, up 34% compared with the same period in 2005. The group’s sales for the first half of the year reached E15 billion, up 37% for the first half of 2005.

Once again price inflation has played a significant part in the impressive sales gains, which have encouraged the company to reiterate its belief of reaching a net profit of E2 billion for the year.

Additionally, Gaz de France says it is continuing its development in Europe. During the first half of the year, the sales of the Group’s international activities reached E5 billion, an increase of nearly 57% over the corresponding figure for the first half of 2005, and by the mid point of this year, international activities accounted for nearly 38% of the company’s overall sales.