The event was also attended by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.
“We need energy security, but energy security is only possible through energy availability and, we, in Romania, have an ambition and this is important for Romanians, for the business environment and for the region because this is a new approach that will ensure us that we have enough energy, will prove that we are energy independent and will show how to achieve the green transition because innovation and nuclear energy will make it possible to replace fossil fuels”, said President Klaus Iohannis.
“We cannot achieve zero climate neutrality by 2050 without nuclear energy being part of the energy mix,” stated John Kerry, adding that the project in Romania will double the energy production capacity at Cernavoda and will help reduce emissions.
“It is a big step for Romania’s energy independence and I am sure the new steps taken together will increase the speed and we will complete our nuclear programs. We are engaged to carry out our reactor-related program”, said Minister Virgil Popescu.
The Cernavod nuclear power plant currently has two reactors and Romania aims to build two more units in order to increase its energy independence.
Based on the preliminary information submitted, EXIM would be able to consider financing up to $50 million of the U.S. export contract for pre-project engineering services as part of engineering multiplier program (EMP) and up to $3 billion of the U.S. export contract for engineering and project management services for the future Units 3 and 4 Cernavoda NPP completion contract.
The letters of intent of US Exim follow the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in October 2020, whereby US Exim Bank expressed interest in financing major investment projects in the Romanian energy sector, including the field of nuclear energy, totaling $7 billion.