Canada plans to provide up to three billion Canadian dollars (two billion euros) of financing for nuclear projects by Romanian state-owned Nuclearelectrica including the expansion of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja and Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson announced on Tuesday (19 September).
Romania plans to build two new CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) nuclear reactors at Cernavodă (units 3 and 4) which is expected to “create significant economic opportunities, for both Romania and Canada,” Romania’s Energy Ministry said via a press release.
“The partnership between our countries in the civil nuclear field dates back to the ‘70s, when Romania made a historic and wise decision to become the only country in the former communist bloc that was going to develop a nuclear program based on Western technology, as well as the only European country that chose to use CANDU technology. As the geopolitical context shows today, this was the best decision Romania could have made at that time. Over time, the cooperation between our states has become stronger and stronger,” said Minister Burduja. “I am proud to reaffirm today our strong commitment to a prosperous and long-term cooperation between our countries in the nuclear field. I also underline Romania’s full support for the development of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, with two new units using CANDU technology, and our commitment to treat this national security project with the highest priority. We are grateful for all the support received through the three billion Canadian dollars financing, a recognition of the exceptional bilateral relationship and the strategic importance of this investment, which is supported at all levels of the Romanian State.”
The construction of the two additional CANDU reactors will add 1,400 megawatts (MW) to the Romanian energy system, which is expected to build “significant export potential” to neighbouring countries. The new reactors are also estimated to cut approximately eight million tons of carbon emissions annually and make a “further step” towards achieving its goal of phasing out coal from power generation by 2032.
“Canada is proud of the role it played in the construction and financing of Units 1 and 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, which now provide approximately 21 per cent of Romania’s electricity. The building of the new units 3 and 4 is an opportunity for Canada to leverage its strong nuclear expertise and work with our key allies to help deliver a secure, zero-emission energy solution with Canadian technology to a European ally,” said Minister Wilkinson.
