Nuclearelectrica doubles profit in H1

Nuclearelectrica, operator of the Cernavoda-based electrical power plant, posted a net profit worth 51.45 million RON (14.5 million euros) in the first half of the year, a 115% increase against the similar period of last year. Company turnover also rose by 26.6%, from 288.68 million RON to 365.48 million RON (some 103.3 million euros). In the first six months of 2005, the company’s profit stood at 23.9 million RON (6.6 million euros). The company’s general manager, Teodor Chirica, said the positive trend is explained by the increase in the amount of electric power delivered to the system, due to the fact that in the first half of last year, the nuclear power station underwent two uncontrolled shutdowns, compared with just one this year, in April. Nuclearelectrica sold 2.734 million MWh in the first six months of 2006, compared with 2.695 million MWh in the same period of last year. Financial results were also influenced to a certain extent by the approximately 10% growth in the amount of energy sold on the free market (for non-household consumers), where prices are higher than the regulated ones.