The ceremony held to mark the occasion
The inauguration ceremony for the civil works was attended by Romanian President Nicu?or Dan, ministers, the ambassadors of Canada, Italy, and South Korea, and executives of the consortium companies. President Dan stated: “Nuclear energy is and will remain important for Romania's energy supply and for our security and strategic autonomy. I am glad that this process of refurbishment of Unit 1 is starting. It is only the first step in a larger project that also includes the construction and operation of Units 3 and 4. These investments in nuclear energy are essential for our country. With them we will be able to deliver safe energy to the economy and citizens, without CO2 emissions, at reasonable and competitive prices.”
In parallel, Nuclearelectrica received approval from the country’s nuclear regulator CNCAN for the construction of the Intermediate Radioactive Waste Repository at Cernavoda. This facility will manage, process, and store low- and medium-level radioactive waste generated during the refurbishment and long-term operation of the plant’s two existing units.
Cosmin Ghi??, General Manager of Nuclearelectrica, said: “Obtaining the building permit for the Intermediate Radioactive Waste Repository related to the development of the critical infrastructure of the Unit 1 Refurbishment Project, according to the schedule of this project, represents an essential step ... marking the entry into the stage of civil construction works. The expansion of the intermediate storage capacity of low and medium radioactive waste, according to CNCAN legislation and regulations, is an indispensable element for sustaining long-term exploitation in complete safety conditions. By refurbishing Unit 1, we will ensure another 30 years of clean, stable and affordable energy production, strengthening Romania's energy security and contributing decisively to achieving the decarbonisation goals.”
KHNP President and CEO Hwang Joo-ho noted that the initiative demonstrates international best practice by “pooling the strengths of each company based on partnerships between participating countries” and emphasized that the project will be delivered on schedule and within budget.
Candu units, such as those at Cernavoda, are pressurized heavy water reactors designed for a 30-year operational life, extendable by another 30 years after refurbishment. The process involves replacing core components including steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes, and feeder tubes. It requires removing all reactor fuel and heavy water before dismantling and conducting inspections. More than 480 fuel channels and 960 feeder tubes will be replaced as part of this high-precision rebuild.
Cernavoda, Romania’s sole nuclear power plant, comprises two 650 MWe Candu reactors—Unit 1 began commercial operations in 1996 and Unit 2 in 2007. Construction on Units 3 and 4, also Candu-6 reactors, originally started in the 1980s but halted in 1989. Work has since resumed, with scheduled operation in 2030 and 2031.
The refurbishment of Unit 1 began in 2017 and is currently in the second of three phases, lasting from 2022 to 2026. This phase includes securing financing, finalizing EPC contracts, planning activities, and obtaining permits. The third phase, from 2027 to 2029, will involve the shutdown, refurbishment, and recommissioning of Unit 1.
