Nuclearelectrica and the international consortium Candu Energy Inc., an AtkinsRéalis company, Ansaldo Nucleare, Canadian Commercial Corporation and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co ceremonially signed the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for the advancement of Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Unit 1 refurbishment on Thursday, estimated value is EUR 1.9 billion, according to a Nuclearelectrica press release.

Nuclearelectrica says in the press release the contract entry into force is conditional upon Nuclearelectrica's General Meeting of Shareholders approval and the approval of the Canadian Government.

The EPC contract main scope consists of: development of the detailed design and execution details, procurement of equipment and materials, execution of Retubing Works and Refurbishment Works as well as construction of the infrastructure as necessary for the Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 Refurbishment Project.

During a special signing ceremony, in the presence of the Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Mr. Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu, the Minister of Energy in Romania, Mr. Sebastian Burduja, H.E. Mr. Rim Kap-soo, ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Romania, H.E. Mr. Gavin Buchan, ambassador of Canada in Romania and H.E. Ms. Valeria Baistrocchi, chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Romania, as well as representatives of the signatory companies.

'Investing in energy is an essential component of the Government's vision to prepare for a clean and sustainable energy future. I congratulate Nuclearelectrica for the refurbishement project of Unit 1 of Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant and for the entire portfolio of investments, designed to contribute to Romania's energy stability,' said the Head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Alexandru-Mihai Ghigiu.

In turn, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja reiterated that Romania assumed its role as regional leader in the nuclear energy area.

'Romania has taken on the role of regional leader in nuclear energy. We want to be pioneers in the development of small-scale reactors, we have already signed the contract for the feasibility study, we already signed the contract for the construction of reactors 3 and 4 at Cernavoda, and today we have also signed the final contract for the refurbishment of Unit 1 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, which we will be able to operate for another 30 years. In the last year and a half, we have managed to attract non-reimbursable funding of almost EUR 14 billion and to stick to our motto: investments, investments, investments. I would like to congratulate the management of Nuclearelectrica for the work they have done and for the fact that together we have managed to unblock vital projects for Romania,' said Sebastian Burduja.

Nuclearelectrica plans to reach carbon emission neutrality, extend the clean energy production, be a leader in innovation and technological progress, manage resources of a sustainable manner and develop the community and the labour force.

'The goal for Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 refurbishment is to ensure the operation of the unit for another life cycle in conditions of safety and economic efficiency. In order to achieve this objective, all the preparation and implementation activities of U1 Refurbishment Project are carried out according to standards of excellence and the international experience gained from the refurbishment of the other CANDU nuclear units worldwide. This is a key project which will extend U1's operational life by 30 years to support Romania's decarbonization goals by avoiding an additional 5 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. We are keen to working with internationally renowned partners which have historically contributed to the current operational performance of Cernavoda Units 1 and 2,' said Nuclearelectrica Chief Executive Officer Cosmin Ghita.

Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis President Joe St. Julian pointed out that the last seven CANDU reactors built worldwide as well as the continuous life span extension of ten CANDU reactors in Ontario have been done one time and keeping within the budget frame.

'The last seven CANDU reactors built around the world, and the ongoing life extension of 10 CANDU reactors in Ontario, have been conducted on time and on budget. As the only organization that has taken a leading role in every CANDU reactor life extension project to date globally, our unmatched track record of executing on schedule, cost, safety, and quality performance, along with the expertise of our top-tier, proven consortium partners, will deliver this project for Romania at and above their expectations,' said Joe St. Julian, President, Nuclear, AtkinsRéalis.

Attending the event, Ph.D. Whang Joo-ho, President and CEO of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co said: 'This achievement reaffirms the global recognition of KHNP's operation and maintenance expertise. With over 50 years of experience in NPP operations and project management, including the refurbishment of Wolsong Unit 1, KHNP is committed to completing this project successfully, on time, and within budget.'

The National Company 'Nuclearelectrica' SA is the national Romanian company which produces electricity, heat and nuclear fuel operating under the authority of the Romanian Ministry of Energy, with the Romanian state holding 82.49% of shares and other shareholders holding 17.50%, after the listing of the company at the stock exchange in 2013.

NPP (CNE) Cernavoda branch operates two CANDU nuclear units, which are two of the most high-performance units among the more than 400 nuclear plants in the world, a nuclear fuel factory and completed an integrated fuel cycle through the procurement of a uranium concentrate processing line, in order to support the long-term investment projects of the company.

Nuclearelectrica has a major role at the national level, contributing by more than 18% of the nuclear energy in the total energy production and by 33% in the total CO2-free energy production in Romania.

Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital.

CCC is Canada's government to government contracting agency. Governments around the world turn to CCC to facilitate acquisitions from Canada for projects of national importance and to reduce their international procurement risk. CCC works to pave the way for a net-zero future by helping Canadian businesses to grow and thrive on the international stage.

Ansaldo Nucleare is part of the Ansaldo Energia group and covers all activities in the nuclear sector, from the design of critical high-tech components to lifetime extension, from decommissioning and waste management to fusion. It is a key player in the development of Small Modular Reactors and Generation IV reactors. Ansaldo Energia Group is one of the world leaders in power generation. Its core business is the supply and service of components and technological solutions for power generation with rotating machines. Headquartered in Genoa (Italy), the Group employs over 3,300 people and has a strong international presence with more than 30 offices around the world.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., (KHNP) is a key player in Korea's energy industry, producing over 30% of the total domestic electricity. KHNP operates 26 nuclear power plants and is engaged in various domestic and overseas nuclear and hydropower plant construction and operation projects, including the construction of the Barakah nuclear power plants in the UAE. For more than 40 years, KHNP has been continuously constructing nuclear power plants, accumulating a wealth of knowledge and technical know-how. KHNP successfully completed the retubing of the Wolsong Unit 1 in Korea which is the same reactor type as Cernavoda Unit 1, a CANDU-6 reactor. AGERPRES (RO - author: Oana Tilica, editor: Mariana Nica; EN - editor: Adina Panaitescu)