Romanian and U.S. officials have discussed plans to modernize the Cernavoda nuclear power plant which Romania wants to expand as it shifts to clean energy.
Nuclearelctrica which owns the Cernavoda plant in eastern Romania said its officials had met U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) officials on Friday.
Kathryn Huff, the acting assistant secretary and principal deputy assistant secretary led the U.S. delegation.
The company said the visit, „envisages the continuation of cooperation” based on an agreement signed in Washington in October 2020. It has since been ratified by both sides.
Nuclearelectrica chief executive officer Cosmin Ghită, said, “The Romanian energy system needs resilience and sustainability. The expansion of nuclear capacity in Romania, in the context of the current transition to a green economy, responds to these needs.”
Mr Ghită said that expanding Cernavoda would create 19,000 indirect jobs. The expanded power plant would avoid 20 million tons of CO2 emissions per year.
Cernavoda is Romania’s only nuclear power plant and has been operational for 25 years. It has two operational Candu-6 units that provide up to 20% of the country’s electricity.
Nuclearelectrica wants to complete another two partly constructed reactors at Cernavoda.
The expansion would involve a two-year period for preparation, followed by preliminary works that last up to two years when critical engineering part would be carried out.
The actual construction phase would take between almost six years and six and a half years.
„It is estimated that unit 3 will enter into commercial operation in 2030, and unit 4 in 2031,” Nuclearelectrica said.
Nuclearelectrica is also working with Candu Energy, part of Canada’s SNL-Lavalin Group, towards extending the operational life of unit 1 until 2026 when it would undergo a full refurbishment, World Nuclear News reported.
Canadian company wins contract to support refurbishment of Romanian nuclear plant
