In 2024, nuclear energy is seen as a central pillar in reaching the ambitious decaronation targets established by Romania, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030, as well as a decrease in energy imports from 20.8% to 17.8% in the same period.
Romania is based on a large experience in the nuclear sector, with over 27 years of operation at exceptional levels of safety and efficiency.The Cernavoda Nuclearoelectric power station, which operates two of the most performing units of the over 400 existing globally, demonstrates the country's ability to manage nuclear resources in a responsible and efficient way.This success is due not only to the infrastructure, but also to the chain of local suppliers, with over 50 years of experience, as well as a robust regulatory framework, represented by the National Commission for the Control of Nuclear Activities (CNCAN), appreciated internationally.
For Romania, the expansion of the nuclear infrastructure is an essential vector for strengthening the energy security and makes a pivotal contribution to achieving the established decarbonization objectives.This development strategy is based on several pillars, including:
- Boosting the economic development throughout the entire value chain;
- Generating tangible economic and social benefits, including the development of communities and creating new jobs;
- Strengthening the strategic position of Romania as a core of competence and central element in the regional supply chain;
- Strategic complementarity with renewable energy sources;
The growth and development of a new generation of specialists, thus strengthening the international recognition of Romania for operational excellence and highly qualified human capital.
In the global context, 411 nuclear reactors contributes about 10% to the energy requirement, accumulating in total 19,607 years of maximum safety operating conditions.From this issue, Estimative 300 are PWR reactors, which are the foundation for the development of small modular reactors (SMR).Currently, 60 high capacity reactors are under construction and another 110 are planned, highlighting an increased emphasis on nuclear technological progress, including SMRs.
Romania has selected SMR technology Based on PWR technology, reactors with pressurized water (PWR), which has 60 years of experience in operation.A major advantage is represented by the states, such as Romania, which have the infrastructure, experience and determination needed to expand nuclear capabilities.Studies indicate a tendency to increase the share of renewable energy by 190%, and in the absence of nuclear capacity, Europe could become 26% dependent on natural gas and 12% coal, resources with a high level of CO2 emissions.
Within the events COP 27 and COP 28, as well as to Nuclear Energy Summit 2024, held in Brussels, nuclear energy was promoted as an essential solution for achieving energy security, energy independence and decarbonization objectives.These forums have served as platforms to accelerate nuclear development, emphasizing its important benefits for energy security, reducing CO2 emissions and stimulating economic growth.
Nuclear Energy Summit 2024, an event that brought together state leaders, was the first international event to approach, exclusively, the role, advantages and major benefits of nuclear energy on energy security, reducing carbon emissions and economic development.The topics of major interest discussed include nuclear and energy security, technological innovation, local and regional economic development, competitiveness, as well as the elaboration of financing programs for nuclear initiatives.
The European Commission actively supports the development of SMR technology, in order to facilitate the implementation of the premiums such reactors in Europe in the early 2030s, as an integral part of the strategy for decarbonizing and increasing the resilience in supply.The support of the commission is provided at all levels at the Research-Involiation Part (DG RTD), the internal market and industry part (DG Grow) and the Energy and Policies (DG EU), the SMR technology being considered a component of the EU decarbonization strategy and supply resilience.
In this context, the SMR project from Doicești represents a transformational initiative for the Romanian energy sector, with a total installed capacity of 462mwe.The socio-economic impact of this project includes the creation of new jobs-200 permanent jobs, 1,500 jobs in construction, 2,300 roles in production-and the annual reduction of 4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, thus contributing to sustainable economic development and environmental protection.
The experience gained by Romania in the operation of nuclear power plants facilitates the technological advance necessary for the conversion of charcoal plants into clean energy ecosystems and low carbon emissions industries.
Romania is positioned as a leader in the adoption of SMR technology in Europe, thus stimulating the regional development and capitalization of the expertise accumulated by Nuclearelectrica.
By setting up European industrial alliance for SMR, of which Romatom is an official member of April 2024, the European Commission aims to create conditions for accelerating the development in the EU, contributing to the consolidation of the European supply chain and the use of existing competences.
In addition, Nuclearelectrica aims to carry out major investment projects, including unit 1 re -technologization, units 3 and 4, implementing the small modular reactors project and the draft of the debt, as well as the integrated development of the nuclear cycle.These initiatives are fundamental to reach Romania's strategic objectives in the field of energy security and decarbonization, having a significant impact both economically and in adjacent fields, such as the development of medical isotopes and exploring the resumption of heavy water production.
Through these strategies and projects, Romania contributes essentially to the energy security and to the decarbonization objectives, while extending the applicability of nuclear energy in innovative fields, such as the medical one.It strengthens the position of Romania as a regional leader and transformational actor in the nuclear industry at European level.
Here is the update regarding the stage of the strategic projects of reenergization of Romania (March 15, 2024, within the General Assembly Romatom):
Executive summary
The Romatom study regarding the ability of the Romanian nuclear industry to participate in the realization of the investment project "Units 3 and 4 Cernavoda"
Between April - August 2018, the Romatom study regarding the capacity of the Romanian nuclear industry was updated regarding the participation in the 3 and 4 units project from Cernavoda CNE.Published initially in 2013, the study was updated in the context in which Romania has two investment projects with significant economic and social impact, namely the project of units 3 and 4 and the refurbishment of unit 1, the study focusing in the inventory of the technical, material and human capacities of the contribution of the Romanian industry to the project 3.
The study was conducted on a number of 42 companies that responded to the questionnaire addressed by Romatom (representing a majority percentage of 60% of the total number of identified companies), with a total turnover of 2.73 billion lei (about 590 million euros) and a number of about 11.00 employees, as follows: as follows:
- 11 companies specialized in providing services of project management, engineering, design, research, consulting;
- 21 companies specialized in the manufacture of equipment and components, including nuclear fuel, as well as other activities;
- 10 companies specialized in construction-assembly activities, commissioning and other activities related to them.
Based on the study, it is estimated that the potential participation of the Romanian nuclear industry at the end of the project 3 and 4 Cernavoda with the goods and services identified within this study can be evaluated at about 1.0 ... 1.6 billion euros, which would represent between 25 and 40 % of the total value of the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract[1]), which represents an important contribution, with a special impact on the national economy and its re -industrialization.The effective value of the contribution depends on the value of the EPCC contract but cannot decrease below 25%.
Also, it is estimated that the local industry can ensure a maximum number of 19,000 jobs dedicated to completing the project 3 and 4 (11,000 existing to which 8,000 jobs can be added that can be created under the receipt of orders).
Romatom believes that the realization of the project 3 and 4 units can lead to a revival of direct investments in the Romanian companies interested in completing it, for the modernization and/or renewal of the production equipment, including the employment and training of new specialists in the field of nuclear energy and the manufacture of equipment.Thus, it is created the possibility of reconnecting a major part of the national industry to the peak field of equipment and the delivery of services for nucleoelectric power stations, which will lead to the elevation and consolidation of the technical level, part of a national reindustrialization policy, including increasing competitiveness on external markets.
[1] Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning