Romania supports acknowledging the role of nuclear energy in the future European energy framework and there is a need for predictable rules and effective access to finance for investments that ensure clean energy, permanently available and at competitive costs for the population and industry, said the Minister of Energy, Dumitru Chisalita, on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Nuclear Alliance, organised in Luxembourg.

'I participated today [October 29,] in Luxembourg, in a meeting of the Nuclear Alliance, on the sidelines of the Energy Council. Romania's message is clear: nuclear energy must have a fully recognised role in the future European energy framework. We need predictable rules and effective access to finance for investments that ensure clean energy, permanently available and at competitive costs for the population and industry. To Romania, cooperation within the alliance must also bring concrete results for our nuclear projects. We have requested the support of the partners for the refurbishment project, an essential investment for the long-term maintenance of the production of low-carbon electricity and for the security of supply,' Chisalita is quoted as saying in a press release of the Ministry of Energy issued on Thursday.

According to the ministry, the Nuclear Alliance is a cooperation format between European states that support the contribution of nuclear energy to energy security, emission reduction and the competitiveness of the economy.

'By coordinating positions and dialoguing with the European institutions, the participating states aim to ensure that this contribution is reflected in the European Union's policies, legislation and financing instruments. The discussions of the Nuclear Alliance focused on the future European energy framework for the post-2030 period and on the contribution of nuclear energy to security of supply, the competitiveness of the European economy and the achievement of decarbonisation objectives. During the meeting, the minister spoke in favour of the need for a technologically neutral European framework, which explicitly recognises the contribution of nuclear energy as a source of clean energy and provides predictable conditions for investments. To Romania, capitalising on the complementarity between nuclear energy and renewable sources is essential for a secure, competitive and low-carbon energy system.'

The Romanian official highlighted the importance of continuing the development of national nuclear projects to ensure Romania's energy security and brought up for discussion the publication of the decision of the European Commission - DG Competition to start an investigation in the state aid for the refurbishment of unit 1 of Romania's Cernavoda nuclear-power plant, a strategic project of particular importance.

Chisalita invited the states participating in the Nuclear Alliance to support the refurbishment project within the 30-day public consultation, underscoring the need for a European framework that facilitates the completion of such investments. AGERPRES (RO - editing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu)