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.  

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.

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.”