The consortium is made up of companies SNC-Lavalin Nuclear Ontario, Ansaldo Nucleare Italy and Elcomex Romania.
According to the ministry, discussions focused on how the construction will be financed.
The Romanian government wants to attract investors to reduce its share in the project. Vosganian supports a financing formula though which the state and participants in the project will share risks.
Romania’s nuclear power project in Cernavoda, valued at EUR4 billlion, was initially scheduled to kick off in 2010, but was sidetracked due to lack of funds after four of the initial investors withdrew, citing economic and market uncertainties.
Enel and ArcelorMittal Romania are the two remaining associates in EnergoNuclear, a joint venture that is supposed to build the new reactors. Romanian Economy Ministry holds 84.65% in EnergoNuclear, while ArcelorMittal and Enel own 9.15% and 6.2% in the joint venture, respectively. The state plans to cut its stake in EnergoNuclear to around 40% and wants to attract new investors.
Cernavoda currently operates two reactors of 700 megawatts power each and covers around 18% of Romania’s electricity production. The two new reactors are expected to double the plant’s capacity.