Romanian electricity producer and operator of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, Nuclearelectrica, has signed an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the plant. The contract, valued at €1.9 billion, was signed with an international consortium consisting of Candu Energy, Ansaldo Nucleare, Canadian Commercial Corporation, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. The agreement will take effect upon approval from Nuclearelectrica’s General Meeting of Shareholders and the Canadian Government.
The EPC contract encompasses the detailed design development, procurement of equipment and materials, execution of retubing and refurbishment works and construction of the necessary infrastructure for the project.
Romania’s Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, emphasized the country’s leadership role in nuclear energy in the region. He highlighted Romania’s pioneering work in small-scale reactor development, the signing of contracts for feasibility studies, and the agreements for the construction of Units 3 and 4 at Cernavoda. The recent signing of the refurbishment contract for Unit 1 ensures its operation for another 30 years. Burduja also noted the government’s success in attracting nearly €14 billion in non-reimbursable funding over the past 18 months, driven by a strong focus on investments.
Nuclearelectrica’s CEO, Cosmin Ghita, stated that the refurbishment of Unit 1 is aimed at ensuring its safe and economically efficient operation for another lifecycle. The company will follow international best practices and leverage experience gained from other CANDU reactor refurbishments globally. This project will extend the unit’s operational life by 30 years, helping Romania avoid an additional 5 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, supporting the country’s decarbonization goals. Ghita also underscored the importance of collaboration with the experienced partners who have contributed to the successful operation of the two existing units at NPP Cernavoda.
