Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 11, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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Concerns over defects in a French reactor have increased European power prices, with potential stress corrosion identified at Civaux 2.
By Forrest Crellin
PARIS (Reuters) -European power contracts jumped on Wednesday on concerns France might have to reduce its nuclear output after the industry regulator said it had identified "hints" of possible stress corrosion in a reactor.
The ASNR watchdog said testing had highlighted possible defects in the Civaux 2 reactor, but that there was no confirmation of corrosion at this stage and more testing was required.
The price for front-year baseload power contracts in France climbed to a four-month high in early trading before falling back to 65.80 euros ($75.38) per megawatt hour in the afternoon.
Operator EDF dealt with stress corrosion cracks in the same reactor less than three years ago, when corrosion in multiple reactors nationwide forced nuclear output in France to a 34-year low and sent prices skyrocketing.
A spokesperson for EDF said an inspection was underway at Civaux 2 as part of annual maintenance and the utility did not yet have the results.
Benchmark European front-month gas contracts were also higher, up 2.3% at 35.58 euros/MWh.
Risks to the French nuclear fleet were the main driver for gas demand on Wednesday, a trader told Reuters.
Reports of the possible defects at Civaux 2 were "risking a revival of tensions on Europe's power market," analysts at DNB said.
Mind Energy analysts attributed the rise in European gas prices and the European front-year baseload contracts to the same news.
Kpler analyst Hazma Aourach played down the risks and said EDF was now better placed in terms of experience and manpower to deal with any renewed stress corrosion issues.
($1 = 0.8729 euros)
(Reporting by Forrest Crellin in Paris, Nora Buli in Oslo and Vera Eckert in Frankfurt. Editing by Rachna Uppal and Mark Potter)
The ASNR watchdog reported possible defects in the Civaux 2 reactor, indicating hints of stress corrosion. However, there is no confirmation of corrosion yet, and further testing is required.
European power contracts surged on concerns that France might reduce its nuclear output, with front-year baseload power contracts climbing to a four-month high before settling at 65.80 euros per megawatt hour.
A spokesperson for EDF stated that an inspection was underway at Civaux 2 as part of annual maintenance, but the utility had not yet received the results of the inspection.
Benchmark European front-month gas contracts rose by 2.3% to 35.58 euros per megawatt hour, driven by the risks associated with the French nuclear fleet.
Analysts at DNB noted that the possible defects at Civaux 2 could revive tensions in Europe's power market, while Kpler analyst Hazma Aourach downplayed the risks, suggesting EDF is better prepared to handle stress corrosion issues.
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