Nuclearelectrica signed the first contract with Candu Energy for Units 3 & 4 at Cernavoda

Nuclearelectrica announces the advancement of CANDU Units 3&4 Project: within the current Preparatory Stage, Energonuclear S.A., the project company, signed the first contract with Candu Energy, a member of the SNC-Lavalin group and the Design Authority of Units 3&4 and OEM of CANDU technology.

Within the contract, Candu Energy will offer engineering services for the elaboration and updating of some documentations necessary to restart the CANDU Units 3&4Project (among which updating the licensing basis documents, updating the Safety Design Guides, updating the list of safety related design changes).

Approved in April 2021 within the Ordinary General Meeting of Nuclearelectrica’s Shareholders, the strategy for continuing the CANDU Units Project of Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant is being implemented in three stages, in accordance with the international experience in the construction of nuclear power plants.

The preparatory stage started with the capitalization and operationalization of the project company, Energonuclear S.A., and will have a duration of 24 months in which technical, legal, financial assistance and engineering services will be contracted, as well as the conducting necessary studies and evaluations.

“We are proud to sign the first contract which moves further the development of CANDU Units 3&4 Project in Cernavoda. Romania needs new nuclear capacities, a clean, resilient and cost-effective energy source, as a solution to meeting Romania’s decarbonation targets. Besides security and stability to national energetic system, the completion of the new CANDU units, will bring as well multiple socio-economic benefits: up to 19,000 indirectly generated jobs, 20 million tons of CO2 will be avoided annually with 4 units in operation, the contribution of nuclear energy in total energy production, at national level: 36%, the contribution of nuclear energy in total energy production without CO2 emissions, at national level: 66%, development of the internal supply chain, other collateral industries,” Cosmin Ghita, CEO Nuclearelectrica SA.

“I am glad and I salute the signing the first contract which advances the development of CANDU Units 3&4 Project in Cernavoda. The partnership with USA and Canada will allow our country to achieve decarbonasition targets wich we assume. This is an important step and I am very optimistic that in future we will be an independent energetic country,” Virgil Popescu Minister of Energy.

“The intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Romania and the United States in 2020 demonstrate each nation’s collective interests in partnering toward reaching energy security and decarbonization goals. The signing of this first contract for the completion of Units 3 & 4 is a major milestone, supports the goals of the IGA, and continues the strong relationship between our countries in the field of nuclear energy,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Dr. Kathryn Huff.

In August 2021, Romania signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canada to strengthen and further develop the cooperation in nuclear energy civil projects, following a 55-year relationship between Canada and Romania in nuclear projects.

The CANDU Units Project is included in Romania’s Energy Strategy, 2019-2030 with the perspective of 2050, as well as in the National Integrated Plan in the field of Energy and Climate Change, as a pillar of Romania’s energy independence and reaching its decarbonization targets as a State EU Member. In this respect, Romania signed on October 9th, 2020, an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) in the field of Nuclear Energy Projects, which was recently ratified as well by the Romanian Parliament, throughout the Law no.199/2021, having a wide support and being adopted with majority of votes. Also, in October 2020, US Exim Bank expressed, through a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), with the Ministry of Energy, the interest to finance large investment projects in Romania, including nuclear ones, with a total amount of 7 billion USD.

These milestones with the United States of America, follow a strong relation in nuclear field between the two states, which started in 1981 when President Reagan approved the first US Exim loan for the Cernavoda Unit 1 project.