The record price of electricity these days in Romania and throughout Europe is caused by the shutdown of some nuclear reactors in France, after discovering some defects, said Ion Lungu, executive director of the Association of Energy Suppliers in Romania (AFEER).

“France has shut down some nuclear capabilities after defects were discovered. Prices are very high these days across Europe,” Lungu said, according to Agerpres.

At the OPCOM exchange in Bucharest, the price with delivery on the spot market on Monday reached the record of 1,591 lei (321.5 euros) per MWh on average and the hourly maximum of 2,306 lei per MWh.

Across Europe, prices are approaching the psychological threshold of 400 euros per MWh. In Switzerland the price reached 396 euros on Monday, in France – 382 euros, the Netherlands – 360 euros, Austria – 344 euros, Germany – 331 euros, Hungary – 322 euros.

France shut down two nuclear reactors late last week after finding cracks in equipment, and will only open them in late January, according to Bloomberg.

The start-up of two other reactors, which had been shut down for maintenance since the beginning of autumn and should have been reopened now, has been postponed until spring, after other faults were discovered.

These reactors, with a capacity of 1,500 MW each, represent about 10% of France’s installed capacity.