Romanian nuclear company Nuclearelectrica announced on Tuesday (7 November) that it has awarded a contract to Candu Energy (CEI), a subsidiary of Canadian company AtkinsRéalis and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) for the supply of tools and reactor components, as well as engineering and technology services.
Valued at around 750 million Canadian dollars (508 million euros), the contract continues the series of previous pre-project contracts as part of a project to extend the lifespan of the CANDU reactor of Unit 1 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant (NPP) in eastern Romania.
“We are pleased to expand our collaboration for the rejuvenation project of Unit 1 at Cernavoda with AtkinsRéalis, which has already proven its experience and capacity. As Unit 1 is a strategic pillar for Romania’s energy stability, we are proud to carry out this project to standards of excellence and to continue to provide clean energy for the next 30 years after its rejuvenation,” said Cosmin Ghiță, General Director of Nuclearelectrica. “Additionally, extending the lifespan of Unit 1 will continue to bring multiple benefits to Romania: maintaining high-quality jobs, as well as creating new ones, investing in the community, making significant contributions to the local and state budget, and local supply chain projects, as part of our vision to create a sustainable future for future generations.”
Cernavoda NPP’s Unit 1 entered commercial operation in 1996, which has an installed capacity of 700 MWe, and in its 27 years of operation has delivered over 138 million MWh to the National Energy System at a capacity factor of over 90 per cent. Once the rejuvenation is complete, which is planned for 2029, Unit 1 is expected to continue to produce approximately 5 TW annually and avoid the release of 5 million tons of CO2 annually.
“As the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of CANDU nuclear technology, we are proud that this solution used, tested, and developed in Canada – which has been so effective domestically and internationally – has also provided Romanians with emission-free, cost-effective, and uninterrupted electricity for generations, ensuring their continuous energy independence and also serving as an excellent model for the rest of Eastern Europe,” said Ian L. Edwards, President and CEO of AtkinsRéalis. “Not only is this award perfectly aligned with our Net Zero philosophy, but it also operationalises our commitment to design a better future for our planet and people.”
The contract signing is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks. Its entry into force is subject to the approval of the General Assembly of Nuclearelectrica shareholders and the completion of approval procedures by the Canadian government.
Canada to finance CANDU reactors for Romania’s Cernavoda NPP expansion
