Romania Signs China for Cernavoda Nuclear Build

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Romania's state-owned Nuclearelectrica (Bucharest) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China General Nuclear Power Company (CGN) to build two nuclear units at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant.

The deal covers the development, construction, operation and decommissioning of units 3 and 4 at the plant, which will have a generating capacity of 720 megawatts (MW) each. CGN was chosen as the preferred supplier just more than a year ago and will own 51% of the joint company, which will be established to oversee the projects. The projects are worth an estimated $3.4 billion.

Cernavoda currently uses two CANDU 6 reactors supplied by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). They have a rated generating capacity of 706 MW each and were commissioned in 1996 and 2007, respectively.

"Units 3 and 4 will fulfil the long-term need of the energy system and support decarbonization targets, ensuring the security of supply, the contribution to a balanced energy mix, stability of supply, and the provision of affordable electricity for the consumer," said Daniela Lulache, chief executive officer of Nuclearelectrica. "For Nuclearelectrica, it also represents additional income from the capitalization of the existing assets, from the operation and maintenance services, and from the supply of nuclear fuel."

The deal represents another key step in China gaining a foothold in the European nuclear power sector. CGN is a minority partner with Electricite de France (EPA:EDF) (Paris) for the proposed the $28 billion, 3,300-MW Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in the U.K. Last month, the companies confirmed a final investment decision to build the project. For additional information, see October 23, 2015, article - EDF to Build Hinkley Nuclear Plant in U.K..

Speaking about the Cernavoda deal, Zhang Qibo, chief executive officer, CGN Romania Nuclear Power Company, China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), said: "Against the backdrop of China's widening cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), the introduction of China's funding and excellent engineering and operation management experience--with 15 reactors in operation and 11 reactors under construction, ranking as No.1 in China on both counts--serves as testimony to the ever-deepening ties between China and CEE in general, and China and Romania in particular."

The new reactors also will be CANDU 6-type reactors with a projected lifespan of 30 years and the possibility of having their life spans extended by an additional 25 years.

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