Ansaldo Nucleare, in joint venture with Candu Energy Inc. (AtkinsRéalis), Fluor Corporation, and Sargent & Lundy, has won a notable contract for engineering, procurement, and construction management services from EnergoNuclear S.A., a subsidiary of SN Nuclearelectrica S.A. This contract aims to build Units 3 and 4 at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant in Romania. The agreement was officially signed today during a ceremony at the UN COP 29 Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, in the presence of representatives from all participating countries.
Under the Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP), the joint venture will provide critical information for a final investment decision, including the development of engineering and construction plans, an updated cost estimate, and preliminary nuclear safety assessment reports and engineering documentation. Following the completion of the LNTP phase, EnergoNuclear may issue a full notice to proceed, contingent upon agreement on commercial terms, to continue with the work necessary to complete Units 3 and 4.
Ansaldo Nucleare’s involvement reaffirms its longstanding relationship with the client, having participated, as the original designer of the Balance of Plant, in the construction of the first two CANDU 6 type units operating at the Cernavoda power plant (each with 700 MWe of power). The two units came into operation in 1996 and 2007 respectively, responding to about 20% of the country’s electric energy needs. The addition of units 3 and 4 will double the power output of the facility. The Unit 2 CANDU reactor at Cernavoda holds the world record for highest capacity factor (composed of reliability and up-time) of any nuclear reactor globally. Romania is preparing for the life extension of the first of these reactors; a project in which Ansaldo Nucleare holds a central role.
The longstanding relationship between Romania and Italy was further strengthened at the beginning of this year, thanks to remarkable support from the Italian insurance financial group SACE. SACE signed a memorandum of understanding with SN Nuclearelectrica S.A. and Ansaldo Nucleare S.p.A. to establish a financing line of up to 2 billion euros, aimed at bolstering the Romanian nuclear program.
"This project is a significant milestone that brings Italy together with key international partners. In light of growing electricity demand, nuclear power plays a vital role in energy security and in the transition to cleaner energy" said Daniela Gentile, CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare. "This agreement not only emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and Europe’s commitment to nuclear energy but also reflects confidence in Ansaldo Nucleare’s 60 years long expertise”.
“Today marks a major milestone in the advancement and ultimately completion of Romania’s strategic Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 project. The EPCM contract represents the very foundation of the project. We are honored to work on this contract and project with highly professional, internationally recognized partners such Candu Energy, an AtkinsRéalis company, Fluor Corporation, Ansaldo Nucleare, Sargent & Lundy as the success of a project derives from both expertise and robust technology. Units 3 and 4, CANDU technology, will provide Romania with energy security and clean energy in a safe and sustainable manner. Once Units 3 and 4 are connected to the grid, 66% of Romania’s clean energy will be provided by nuclear energy, showcasing, one more time, the critical role of nuclear energy in deep decarbonization. I express my strong appreciation to the EnergoNuclear team, SNN team and our partners for their professionalism and joint efforts into building together a solid project,” stated Cosmin Ghita, Chief Executive Officer, Nuclearelectrica.
