Bucharest, March 17, 2020

Position document

The Romanian Atomic Forum (Romatom) sent to the European Commission on March 12, 2020, its position on the proposal of regulation of the European Parliament and the Council, establishing "The fund for a fair transition", Document that provides for the transformation of Europe in the first neutral continent in terms of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, excludes the benefits and opportunities generated by the development of the nuclear energy sector, in reaching this target.

Romatom welcomes the proposal of the European Commission to provide support for the decarbonization of the energy sector and to provide financial assistance to fossil fuel dependent regions, but at the same time regrets that the proposal of the European Commission excludes nuclear energy from this agreement and the associated financing mechanisms.

There are solid arguments from some independent international institutions and associations, which have an indisputable reputation, on the role played by nuclear energy, together with renewable technologies, both today and to achieve the goals of a carbon -free savings by 2050, such as:

• IPCC report "1.5 ° C global warming”, October 2018, which recognizes that "Nuclear energy is essential for the world to maintain global warming below 1.5 degrees", Emphasizing the fact that" ... Health risks are reduced (for nuclear sector) per unit of electricity production unit"And"occupied surface (of nuclear technologies) is lower than occupied by other energy sources…”
• OCDe/aie report "Nuclear energy in a clean energy system”, 2019, believes that "As nuclear energy is facing an uncertain future in many countries, the world risks a steep decline in its use in advanced economies, which could lead to billions of tons of additional carbon emissions"And"Lack of expanding the operating life of existing nuclear power plants and (non -realization) New projects can lead to supplementation of CO2 emissions by 4 billion tons.”
• The Report of the World Energy Council "World Energy Scenarii 201 the future of the nuclear sector: Various harmonies in the energy transition "Illustrate the fact that" There is an increasing recognition of the fact that nuclear energy will be found in the future global energy mix and will contribute to sustainable development”, Bringing concrete arguments in this regard
• And not least, the communication of the European Commission "A clean planet for all", Since November 2018, states that"By 2050, over 80% of the electricity will come from renewable energy sources (increasing the component located at sea-offshore).Together with a nuclear energy weight of approximately 15%, this will be the spine of a carbon -free European energy system", Appreciating that"These transitions are similar to the global paths analyzed in the IPCC report”.

Currently in the European Union, nuclear energy provides 50% of the total production of clean electricity, over one million jobs, making a contribution of over 500 billion euros to the EU GDP.Romania has a significant production of electricity based on fossil fuels, with a visible weight of coal.The ambition to replace fossil fuels exclusively with renewable sources, during the decarbonization road to 2050, without maintaining the existing nuclear fleet, extending its operating time and developing it with new nuclear units, as well as through new modular reactors of generation IV, is not realistic, even in the conditionsneighbor.

Therefore, the nuclear industry in Romania (12,000 jobs, a contribution of 5.7 billion euros to the national GDP), mostly being part of Romatom, requires an unequivocal reconsideration from the European institutions of the role of nuclear energy to obtain a clean environment, prosperity and an increased energy safety.

To have a real transition "FAIR", It is essential that nuclear energy be included in the fund for a fair transition, ("Just Transition Fund"), Also benefiting from significant support for research, development and innovation, for the development of advanced nuclear technologies, with a higher degree of safety and flexibility.

About Romatom:

Constituted on January 10, 2001, by 14 companies with private or state capital, as well as two non-governmental associations, Romatom currently 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 accession of the association at the European Atomic Forum (drot).

http://romatom.ro/

Sources:

• https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/fs_20_50;
• http://ipcc.ch/sr15
• https://www.iea.org/newsroom/news/2019/may/steep-decline-in-nuclear-power-would-threaten-energy-security-and-climate-goals.html
• https://www.worldenergy.org/assets/downloads/Nuclear_Scenarios_Exec_Summary_FINAL_for_website.pdf
• https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/docs/pages/com_2018_733_en.pdf
• https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy-environment/opinion/nuclear-energy-powering-the-economy-carbon-free-growth-jobs-and-leadership-in-innovation/