“Nuclearelectrica is a cornerstone of regional energy security, playing an essential role in ensuring a stable, clean and sustainable energy supply in an increasingly dynamic and challenging geopolitical environment. The company’s contribution extends beyond Romania, being an essential energy supplier and a stabilizing force for neighbouring countries in Southeastern Europe. By providing reliable, on-grid electricity through nuclear energy, Nuclearelectrica strengthens Romania’s energy independence, and – at the same time – reduces dependence on imported energy sources, contributing to greater resilience throughout the region,” said Cosmin Ghita, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.
Societatea Națională “Nuclearelectrica” SA (SNN) is a state-owned company, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange since 2013, and in the current shareholding structure, the Romanian state holds 82.49% of the shares. Its main activities include the production of electricity, thermal energy and the manufacture of nuclear fuel. SNN plays an important role at national level, providing approximately 20% of the country’s electricity and 33% of the total low-carbon energy production.
SNN owns and operates two CANDU reactors that started operating in 1996 (Unit 1) and in 2007 (Unit 2) at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, with a total capacity of 1,300 MWe. The Cernavoda nuclear power plant was the first and only nuclear power plant in Europe to adopt CANDU (Canadian deuterium uranium) technology. The Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant is located in the Dobrogea region of southeastern Romania, near the Danube River and the Danube-Black Sea Canal.
Romania plans to expand its nuclear power program, including both large reactors (two additional Candu units, 3 and 4) and small modular reactors (SMRs). SNN also plans to extend the operating life of Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant to 60 years.
Regarding the fuel cycle, SNN owns a nuclear fuel fabrication plant (Fabrica de Combustibil Nuclear Pitești) as well as a uranium concentrate processing line (Fabrica de Procesare a Concentratul de Uraniu Feldioara), which was recently acquired to support the fuel supply of Romania’s long-term nuclear investment projects.
Unit 1 Cernavoda NPP – Life Cycle 2
Nuclearelectrica recently signed the EPC contract, the vital contract for the completion of this project. The contract consists of: the development of the detailed design and construction details, the procurement of equipment and materials, the execution of re-tubing and renovation works, as well as the construction of the necessary infrastructure for the renovation project of Unit 1 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant.
“This is the key contract that will extend the operational life of Unit 1 by 30 years to support Romania’s decarbonization objectives by avoiding an additional 5 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. We are eager to work with internationally renowned partners who have historically contributed to the current operational performance of Units 1 and 2 of Cernavoda,” says Cosmin Ghiță.
Unit 1 of the Cernavoda NPP was commissioned in 1996 and marked the beginning and development of the Romanian nuclear program in operation. The first generation of the Romanian nuclear industry, today’s mentors, were trained and performed by building and operating Unit 1.
From 1996 to the present, the operation of Unit 1 has led to the avoidance of 140 million tons of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, safely delivered over 142 million MWh, at a capacity factor of over 90%. Unit 1 has consistently been among the best performing nuclear units worldwide in terms of capacity factor.