Life extension of Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant – Unit 1
Ansaldo Nucleare has signed a contract with SNC-Lavalin for the supply of engineering services for plant life extension in Unit 1 of Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, Romania. The project is one of the preparatory activities for modernisation awarded by Romania’s nuclear energy company Nuclearelectrica to SNC-Lavalin, worth a total of about €45 million.
Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant will be thirty years old at the end ofthe year 2026, and important modernisation work is required to permit Plant Life Extension (“PLEX”) by as many years again, shutting down the plant for about two and a half years.
As Original Designer, Ansaldo Nucleare will play a key role in the project, with responsibility for Balance of Plant work: the engineering and collection of information and data at this stage in the project will permit correct definition of the work required to extend the plant’s lifespan.
Following the recent Condition Assessment and Design Modification contracts, this new contract represents another step in Ansaldo Nucleare’s historic partnership with Romania: the Genoese company has contributed to the completion and entry into service of Units 1 and 2 in Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant over the past thirty years and is now laying the foundations for future development of Romania’s nuclear program. Past experience and close collaboration with all the players involved opens up the path to future projects such as construction of Units 3 and 4 in the power plant.
“We are particularly proud to be a part of this project, demonstrating the faith our partners have in us and our abilities,” notes Riccardo Casale, CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare. “As in the past, Ansaldo Nucleare will act as head of the Italian industry in Romania, bringing to the project not only its own contribution but the hightech services and products of Italy’s entire nuclear industry.”
“We are happy to continue the strategic partnership we have with SNC-Lavalin and Ansaldo Nucleare, as top professionals in the industry, which know very well our Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant and the excellence standards of the nuclear industry. The refurbishment of Unit 1will continue to bring multiple benefits to Romania: clean, affordable, and safe energy, preserving high quality jobs, as wellas creating new ones, investments in the community, an important contribution to local and national budget, as well as projects for the local supply chain, as par of our vision to create a sustainable future for the next generations.” said Cosmin Ghiță, CEO of Nuclearelectrica SA.
Plant Life Extension in Unit 1 is essential to ensure that the plant continues to contribute to production of electricity for the country, as the unit fulfils 10% of Romania’s energy requirements, making a substantial contribution to decreasing the industry’s CO2 emissions.