| NUCLEAR ENERGY IN ROMANIA(3.10.2007) |
| (2007-10-03) |
| Last updated: 2007-10-05 10:24 EET |
The Cernavoda plant in south-eastern Romania, the only nuclear power plant in Romania, has attracted the interest of 31 companies, both local and from the EU, North America and Asia, all interested in finalizing reactors 3 and 4 of the plant. These would each produce some 700 Megawatts of electricity, and would cost some 2.3 million Euros. Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian has stated that in order to reduce costs, the current tender concerns both reactors, as opposed to the other two individual projects for the other 2 reactors, which are already functional.
These reactors are planned to be rendered operational in 2014 and 2015 respectively. This is a top priority for Romania’s 2007-2020 energy strategy. The power plant in Cernavoda was designed to operate on 5 reactors, based on the CANDU type Canadian technology. The first unit, which provides for 10% of national electricity consumption, became operational in 1996. The second started to operate at full capacity last week. Its use for commercial purposes will allow Cernavoda to cover 17 to 18% of national consumption. The concurrent operation of all 4 reactors will, however, trigger a serious additional problem: the provision of nuclear fuel.
Estimates suggest that national uranium deposits will be exhausted in 2017. One possible solution, which according to minister Vosganian, Romania is seriously considering, is the purchase of a uranium mine abroad. This announcement is proof of the fact that Bucharest is willing to innovate in order to bolster its position on the energy market.
|
2025-04-03
Print
Listen again