Romanian nuclear plant malfunctions

A nuclear power plant in south-eastern Romania was shut down today after an electricity transformer network went off-line, the company that runs the plant said.

There were no radioactive leaks, said Teodor Chirica, general manager of Nuclearoelectrica SA, a state-owned company which operates the plant.

He added that the incident did not threaten the safety of the plant, which is likely to be restarted tomorrow.

Experts are currently investigating why the transformer turned itself off, Chirica said.

The Cernavoda plant, which was built using Canadian technology, provides about 12% of Romania's energy needs.