Candu Energy Inc. (AtkinsRéalis Group), in a joint venture with Fluor Corporation, Ansaldo Nucleare and Sargent & Lundy, has been awarded a contract from EnergoNuclear SA to build two new CANDU reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear generating station in Romania; they will be the first to be constructed anywhere since 2007, and will allow Romania to almost double its production of low carbon electricity. It will also enable the expansion of the production of medical isotopes. Candu reactors in Canada produce 50% of the world’s supply of the Cobalt-60 isotope.
Financing of the new reactors will be supported by $3 billion from the Canadian government and unspecified additional capital ‘from other governments’.
“This is a game changing contract for AtkinsRéalis and Romania. As the sole commercial licensee of the … Candu technology, we are uniquely positioned to contribute to the vast expansion of the world’s clean power,” commented Ian L. Edwards, president and CEO, AtkinsRéalis. This also represents our first step in our expansion around the world as we aim to sell many more reactors.”
As the original equipment manufacturer of the Canadian-owned Candu technology, AtkinsRéalis will provide design, engineering, and procurement services, as well as support to EnergoNuclear in meeting European Union directives around the project and interfacing with Romania’s nuclear power regulator, the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control. These two new units are the first Candu builds since Romania’s Unit 2 nuclear reactor came online in 2007; AtkinsRéalis believes they signal a new era in the construction of large reactors in support of the nuclear ‘super cycle’ in response to the increasing global demand for energy.
EnergoNuclear is the Romanian entity responsible for construction, commissioning and operation of Cernavoda Units 3 & 4. The first phase of the mandate is worth $224 million. After completion of that phase, EnergoNuclear has the option to issue a full notice to proceed with the services necessary to complete Units 3 and 4, subject to the agreement of commercial terms.
“We aim to prove that energy security, energy availability and energy resilience along with 66% of Romania’s clean energy can efficiently be provided by a single energy source, nuclear, based on [our] years of experience, strategic partnerships and robust technology,” stated Cosmin Ghita, Nuclearelectrica CEO.
The Cernavoda site houses Romania’s only nuclear power plant. It provides about 20% of the country’s power, currently consisting of two Candu reactors (Units 1 and 2) on a site layout that was originally constructed for five. Each reactor is rated at around 720 MW. Unit 2 is said to hold the world record for highest capacity factor (composed of reliability and up-time) of any nuclear reactor globally. Romania is also preparing for the life extension of Unit 1, a project in which AtkinsRéalis holds a central role.
