The Romanian Atomic Forum (Romatom), the Association of the Nuclear Industry in Romania, took note of the publication by the European Commission of the report "Nuclear Program with informative character" (PINC). PIN is presented in order to develop an opinion from the European Economic and Social Committee, in accordance with Article 40 of the EURATOM Treaty.on the entire life cycle of nuclear energy and contributes to the implementation of the Energy Union strategy by analyzing relevant investments from the Member States from the perspective of safety, security, diversification, technological and industrial management.
,,The conclusions of the document show that, in relation to the perspective of 2050, this technology with low carbon emissions will remain an important component of the EU energy mix.At the same time, as our colleagues from the drill showed, it must be said that PINC does not include a mention of nuclear energy production targets, given that estimates show a decrease in Nuclear capacity at the EU level by 2050 - from 120 GWE, currently registered at 100 GWE”, Said Marius Gheorghiu, the general director of Elcomex IEA, the company that owns the Romatom Presidency.
The report shows that nuclear energy is part of the energy mix in half of the EU Member States.It is mentioned that "in this context, the Strategy of the Energy Union and the Strategy of European Energy Security shows that the Member States must apply the highest standards of safety, security, waste management and non-problem, as well as the diversification of nuclear fuel supply".
,,Romatom appreciates the vision of the European Commission regarding the maintenance of the EU position of technological leader in the nuclear field.Creating the conditions for the implementation of actions meant to contribute to the materialization of this vision will generate new opportunities for European companies, with a direct impact on the labor market and EU competitiveness.In this context, the project of units 3 and 4 from Cernavoda is more than adequate to be implemented, having direct benefits both from the perspective of the local industry and in terms of reaching the targets assumed by Romania for decarbonizing the energy sector ”, Added Marius Gheorghiu, the general manager of Elcomex IEA, the company that owns the Romatom Presidency.
Romatom supports the opinion of the Fratom (the European Nuclear Industry Association) according to which the European Commission should propose concrete measures to facilitate investments in the nuclear energy sector, along with other technologies with reduced cottage.The foratoma opinion comes in the context in which PINC, although it shows that "significant investments" are needed to expand the life of the reactors, as well as for the construction of new reactors in the EU, does not respond to impediments that make such investments.
According to PINC, with 27% of electricity produced from nuclear energy and 27% of renewable sources, the EU is one of the four major savings that generate more than half of the electricity without carbon emissions.At the EU level, Romania is the only state with a complete nuclear cycle, and units 1 and 2 in Cernavoda provide about 20% of Romania's electricity needs.At the same time, in Romania, the role of nuclear energy is also significant in environmental protection, the two units from Cernavoda contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by CCA.12,000,000 tonnes CO2/year, which would otherwise occur by burning fossil fuels.
PINC - Mentions regarding Romania:
- New projects are estimated in ten Member States, four reactors being under construction in Finland, France and Slovakia.Other projects in Finland, Hungary and the United Kingdom are in licensing process, while projects in other Member States (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland and Romania) are in the preparation phase.
- Some reactors are in the research stage (e.g. Allegro, ALFRED, Myrrha and Astrid) and could significantly advance by 2050.
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About Romatom:
Romatom was set up on January 10, 2001, when 14 companies, with private or state capital, as well as two non-governmental associations, decided to set up the Romanian Atomic Forum.Currently, Romatom has over 30 members.
The association aims to promote the use for peaceful nuclear energy in Romania and to support the national nuclear program, as well as the coordination of all the activities assumed by the accession and participation of the Association in Foratom - the European Atomic Forum.At the same time, Romatom advocates for the protection and promotion of the interests of its members, representing the voice of the national nuclear industry, considering the technological and acquired know-how level, in order to fruiting them in practice.
Sources:
http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2016/EN/1-2016-177-EN-F1-1.PDF
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-1202_en.htm
http://www.nuclear.ro/en/rd_programs/programme_12.php
http://www.foratom.org/public/position-papers/8650-nuclear-indicative-programme-pinc/file.html
