Speaking at a press conference, Luca D’agnese said both Enel and ArcelorMittal Romania, the second remaining minority holder in EnergoNuclear, “have the possibility” to double their participations until end 2012.
“Any further increase would have to be discussed,” he said.
Enel holds 9.15% in the joint venture, while ArcelorMittal owns a 6.2% stake. The remainder 84.65% is in the hands of the Romanian authorities, through the energy company Nuclearelectrica.
The state plans to cut its stake in EnergoNuclear to 40% and is looking for buyers, after four international partners withdrew from the project, citing economic and market uncertainties.
The Cernavoda project is valued at around EUR4 billion and is due for completion in 2019, three years later than initially estimated.
Cernavoda currently operates two reactors of 700 megawatts power each and covers around 20% of Romania’s electricity production. The two new reactors are expected to double the plant’s capacity.