Last week, the Supreme Defence Council (CSAT) has approved the report prepared by the Ministry of Energy on the project for the construction of units 3 and 4 at the country’s sole nuclear power plant Cernavoda.
This approval green-lights the continuation of activities necessary for the construction of reactors 3 and 4 at NPP Cernavoda. It is even more important if recent statements by Government officials and business representatives on abandoning the project are taken into account. Recently, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy Corina Popescu said that Romania is currently in the process of defining its energy strategy, therefore no rash decisions should be made regarding the expansion of NPP Cernavoda.
CSAT has decided that the construction of two new reactors represents a priority investment project for Romania, which will ensure the growth of nuclear energy’s share to 30-32 % of total electricity generation in the country and will substantially contribute to the country’s economic growth.
In the beginning of September 2014, CGN was selected as the only qualified investor in the project and submitted the only bid later that month. On 17 October 2014, Nuclearelectrica announced that CGN was appointed selected investor for the development of units 3 and 4 at NPP Cernavoda. The company also said it has signed joint letter of intent for the project with CGN. Contract for NPP Cernavoda could be closed by the end of 2015, and its cost is estimated at 6.5 billion euros. However, it is expected that new feasibility study will reevaluate projects’ costs.
In November 2015, CGN and the Romanian Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the design, construction, operating and decommissioning of units 3 and 4 at NPP Cernavoda, transmits Serbia-energy.eu
