The National Company Nuclearelectrica SA has signed two strategic agreements with the French group EDF for the refurbishment of Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant and for the Medical Radioisotopes project, the company announced in a press release.

'SN Nuclearelectrica SA (SNN) has formally signed two agreements with subsidiaries of the French EDF group. The first agreement, signed with Arabelle Solutions, concerns advancing the refurbishment works for Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant. The second agreement, concluded with Framatome, focuses on developing the Medical Radioisotopes Project. These agreements are in line with SNN's investment strategy and its objective to position Romania's nuclear industry at the forefront of current and future global trends in the nuclear field,' the release stated.

Arabelle Solutions will supply equipment and services for the refurbishment of the Unit 1 turbine-generator at Cernavoda, as part of the unit's life-extension programme, which will add another 30 years of operation starting in 2029.

The refurbishment of Unit 1 is currently in its second development phase, mainly focused on engineering, procurement, licensing, financing, planning, and infrastructure construction. Nuclearelectrica has already started civil works for the refurbishment, with the unit scheduled to be disconnected from the grid in 2027 and brought back into operation in 2029. Once reconnected, Unit 1 will continue to safely deliver 5 million MWh annually, operating 24/7, while avoiding 5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, supporting the supply chain, and creating hundreds of jobs, the release emphasised.

'Our goal is to provide Romania with energy security, clean energy, and excellence standards through international partnerships, expertise, and both local and national development. We have made essential progress in advancing SNN's strategic projects in 2024 and 2025. Through our strategies and initiatives, we aim to contribute not only to energy security and the achievement of decarbonisation and ESG targets, but also to the fields where nuclear energy can prove its value. As a key element supporting all our projects, we are equally focused on developing a new generation of nuclear specialists in Romania,' Nuclearelectrica CEO Cosmin Ghita was quoted as saying in the release.

Catherine Cornand, CEO of Arabelle Solutions, highlighted that the contract reflects the company's commitment to providing proven, reliable, and innovative technologies that enable the safe and long-term operation of nuclear assets.

'We are proud to support the refurbishment of Cernavoda Unit 1, a project of strategic importance for Romania's energy future. This contract demonstrates our dedication to supplying reliable and innovative technologies that ensure the safe, long-term operation of nuclear facilities, while providing future generations with dependable, low-carbon electricity,' Cornand stated.

The agreement with Framatome establishes the framework under which the two companies will collaborate on implementing the production of Lutetium-177 medical radioisotopes at the Cernavoda plant, operating the equipment and infrastructure resulting from the project, and, in the future, developing additional projects related to the production of medical radioisotopes.

Launched in 2024 as part of Nuclearelectrica's long-term strategy to capitalise on the additional benefits of nuclear energy production and to supply the medical industry with much-needed radioisotopes, the IRIS Project (Innovative Romanian Isotope System) has now entered its implementation phase. Nuclearelectrica and Framatome aim to launch commercial irradiation services in 2028.

According to the release, more than 10,000 medical institutions worldwide perform around 49 million radioisotope procedures annually, while in the EU, over 1,500 medical facilities conduct about 10 million such procedures each year. These figures clearly illustrate the scale of demand and the vital role of radioisotopes — making Nuclearelectrica's contribution even more significant, as Lutetium-177 is an essential isotope in cancer treatment.

'The year 2025 will be a significant one for the development and progress of Nuclearelectrica's projects. We are on track with our established timeline, and each agreement is designed to move both the Unit 1 refurbishment and the IRIS project one step closer to completion. We are partnering with world-class professionals such as Arabelle Solutions and Framatome to deliver energy security, supply stability, and clean energy through the refurbishment of Unit 1, as well as medical radioisotopes for the healthcare community — all while generating added value for our shareholders. We are here to demonstrate the full beneficial potential of Romania's nuclear industry,' said Cosmin Ghita.

According to Framatome CEO Gregoire Ponchon, the agreement underscores Framatome's and Nuclearelectrica's shared commitment to strengthening the supply chain for life-saving radioisotopes in Europe and worldwide.

'Framatome is proud to leverage its expertise in the fight against cancer and to contribute to broadening access to nuclear medicine,' Gregoire Ponchon added. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Gherasi; EN - Simona Iacob)