Each of the units operating the Cernavoda nuclear power plant (CNE) has 700MW of capacity. TTstudio/Shutterstock.com.

Italy’s Ansaldo Nucleare has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica (SNN) for the refurbishment and expansion of the CNE in Romania.

The MOU outlines the refurbishment of the CNE’s Unit 1 and the construction of new units 3 and 4.  

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The collaboration is supported by the Italian export trade agency SACE.

The project, potentially financed up to €2bn ($2.16bn), will support Romania’s clean energy objectives and climate change mitigation efforts.

The two CANDU 6-type units at the CNE have a capacity of 700MW each and began operations in 1996 and 2007.

Together, they provide 20% of Romania’s energy needs.

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Ansaldo Nucleare will manage the engineering and procurement of components necessary for extending the life of Unit 1.

This work will be undertaken in collaboration with Canadian company Candu Energy, a subsidiary of AtkinsRéalis and Korean company Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.  

SNN is simultaneously planning to complete units 3 and 4. The new units will be based on the design of Unit 2, making Ansaldo Nucleare’s involvement crucial as the original designer. Unit 2 includes systems to convert nuclear fission energy into electricity.

Nuclearelectrica CEO Cosmin Ghita stated: “The refurbishment of Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 and the completion of units 3 and 4 will lead after 2031 to generating approximately 66% of Romania’s clean energy with a significant impact on decarbonisation by avoiding 15 million tons of CO₂ on a yearly basis.

“With nuclear energy as a 24/7 available source and over 90% capacity factor, Nuclearelectrica’s nuclear expansion investments will greatly benefit Romania’s long-term energy security, reliability and value chain socio-economic development, from Romanian suppliers’ chain growth to job creation and a new generation of nuclear specialists.

“Our partnership with Ansaldo Nucleare stands as a long-time cooperation based on performance and professionalism going back to the beginning of Unit 1 commissioning. Therefore we are looking forward to continuing this partnership for the new units.”