EnergoNuclear, AECL Sign Contract For Cernavoda Nuclear Plant In Romania

Published: 08-Feb-2010

SC EnergoNuclear (EnergoNuclear) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) have signed a contract to assess the technical and commercial viability, and planning of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant (NPP) units 3 and 4 investment project in Romania.

The scope of the contract is for AECL to provide consulting services in the nuclear safety and engineering field in order to define what is required to complete the Cernavoda NPP units 3 and 4 project. AECL will undertake activities such as design, authorization and assessment of the existing infrastructure and safety conditions.

Dan Ionescu, general manager of EnergoNuclear, said: This contract is a significant step towards the completion of units 3 and 4. Units 1 and 2, in service since 2007, already provide 20% of Romania's electricity supply and have produced significant economic benefits, high value jobs and industry spinoffs. Once complete, the new units will substantially increase our nuclear energy capabilities, and provide significant new economic and employment opportunities in the region."

Hugh MacDiarmid, president and CEO of AECL, said: "AECL has been active in Romania since the early 1980's and has been a primary contributor to the nuclear infrastructure in the Romanian market. We are delighted to be working with EnergoNuclear to strengthen Romania's nuclear capability. Our CANDU 6 reactor is the top performing reactor in the world with a lifetime capacity factor of almost 90 per cent, and we believe that this track record of high performance will continue with Units 3 and 4."

EnergoNuclear is owned 51% by Romanian-utility Nuclearelectrica along with joint venture partners Czech utility CEZ, France's GDF-Suez, Italy's Enel, Germany's RWE Power, Spain's Iberdrola and steel producer ArcelorMittal. The company was established in 2009 to undertake the construction, commissioning and operation of two new reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.

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