Authorities are now looking to buy uranium in Jordan or Kazakhstan, Gaman added.
“For the lifespan of reactors 1 and 2, namely 40-50 years, we have enough uranium. For the functioning of reactors 3 and 4 we are looking into solutions (such as buying from suppliers or mining for uranium in other countries),” Gaman said.
The ministry official added authorities will meet in October, in Bucharest, with Kazakh representatives, to discuss the possibility of buying uranium.
Romania, through state-owned nuclear energy company Nuclearelectrica, controls 85.6% in EnergoNuclear, a joint venture set up to build the additional reactors at Cernavoda. ArcelorMittal Romania and Italy’s Enel own the remaining shares.
The government is looking for more investors in the project, after four of its initial six partners withdrew their funds, citing economic and market uncertainties.
Nuclearelectrica plans to sell over 40% of its stake in EnergoNuclear by March 2012, while the works at the new reactors are estimated to start in 2013.
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.