“Candu Energy looks forward to working with CNPEC to meet Romania’s growing nuclear energy requirements,” said Preston Swafford, Candu Energy President and CEO.
“Today’s agreement deepens our strong ties with both the Romanian and Chinese nuclear industries, as CANDU reactors have operated in both countries for more than a decade,” he added.
The agreement follows a letter of intent signed in November 2013 by CNPEC’s parent company China General Nuclear Power Group and Romanian Nuclearelectrica (SNN.RO) for investment in and development of two additional nuclear units at the Cernavoda site.
Contacted by Mediafax, Nuclearelectrica said investors could “effectively” join the Cernavoda project only after they have passed the selection criteria.
“The cooperation agreement signed by Candu Energy Inc. and China Nuclear Power Engineering, as per the press statement released by Candu Energy, reiterates the Chinese company’s interest in participating in the planned construction of the two nuclear reactors. The effective involvement of an investor in the project will follow a selection procedure and will be based on the project’s development strategy,” Nuclearelectrica said.
Nuclearelectrica operates two 700-megawatt CANDU reactors in Cernavoda, covering around 20% of Romania’s energy consumption. The two new reactors are expected to double the plant’s capacity.