Fluor has revealed that its joint venture (JV) has been granted limited notice to proceed with the design phase of units 3 and 4 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.

The Fluor-led JV contains AtkinsRéalis, Sargent & Lundy, and Ansaldo Nucleare. 

As part of the limited notice to proceed, Fluor and its partners will provide essential information for a final investment decision.

This comprises engineering and construction plans, a revised cost estimate and schedule, and initial nuclear safety assessment reports and engineering documentation.

EnergoNuclear, a subsidiary of Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica, signed the contract during a ceremony at the United Nations COP29 climate change conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 November to 22 November 2024.

The event was attended by Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja and US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.

Fluor LNG & Power business president Pierre Bechelany stated: “Nuclear energy is a safe and clean source of reliable baseload electricity, which is critically important to meet growing power demands globally. Fluor is pleased to be a part of such an important project for Romania and Eastern Europe.”

The Cernavoda nuclear power plant, operated by Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica, produces 1.4GW of electricity with two operational units, meeting 20% of Romania’s electricity demand.

The addition of units 3 and 4 will almost double the facility's power output.

The expansion is a milestone in Romania's efforts to enhance sustainability and energy security in the region.

In early 2024, Ansaldo Nucleare signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica for the refurbishment and expansion of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.

The MoU outlines the refurbishment of Cernavoda nuclear power plant’s Unit 1, along with the construction of new units 3 and 4. This collaboration is backed by the Italian export credit agency, SACE.