Czech state-run power group CEZ said Tuesday that net profit for 2015 fell by eight percent from 2014 on a drop in energy prices and lower production at its nuclear plants.

Europe's second largest power exporter CEZ said in a statement its net profits tallied at 20.5 billion koruna (758 million euros, $842 million) in 2015 against earnings of 22.4 billion koruna in 2014.

The company raised sales to 210.2 billion koruna from 202 billion koruna despite a drop in output at its two nuclear plants, Dukovany and Temelin, caused by unscheduled shutdowns at Dukovany and longer-than-expected shutdowns at Temelin.

CEZ, which is 70 percent controlled by the Czech state, produced 60.9 terawatt hours of power in 2015, a drop of three percent from 2014.

Output at its nuclear plants fell by 11 percent against 2014.

Listed in the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, CEZ employs almost 26,000 people.

frj/mas/jh

CEZ