11 Februarie 2010
Consultant to NPP units 3 and 4: 4 bln, the right price for the construction of the project
The price estimated for the construction of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 is fair , says Hugh MacDiarmid, chairman and CEO of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), the company that will provide consulting services in the nuclear safety and engineering to the €4 billion-NPP units.
“The construction of the Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 is a very efficient project in terms of investment and it is also fairly priced. Romania has the advantage of a good logistic support and the experience achieved from the other two units from Cernavoda”, said MacDiarmid, the leader of a state-run Canadian company.
Though the investment for the completion of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant units 3 and 4 might seem too high, MacDiarmid says fuel savings for the country will be great.
“A hydrocarbon-based energy source means lower costs than a nuclear reactor. However, fuel costs at a hydrocarbon-based energy source accounts for 20% of its annual operating costs, while at a nuclear reactor, fuel costs account for only 6%”, MacDiarmid stressed.
As for the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 project in Romania, AECL will undertake activities such as design, authorization and assessment of the existing infrastructure and safety conditions, for which the Canadian company will get €8 million on an annual basis.
“The contract is for one year, but we will provide consulting services after the contract expires if needed”, said MacDiarmid.
The Units 1 and 2 already in service provide 20 per cent of Romania’s electricity supply. Once complete, the Units 3 and 4 will increase the country’s nuclear energy capabilities and around 35-40% of the country’s energy supply will come from nuclear sources.
“I don’t know whether the share of 35-40% of nuclear energy in the country’s electricity supply can be deemed high, since in France for instance, nearly 70% of the national energy supply comes from nuclear sources”, AECL CEO added.
EnergoNuclear is owned 51 per cent by Romanian-utility Nuclearelectrica SA along with joint venture partners CEZ, GDF-Suez, Enel, RWE Power, Iberdrola and steel producer ArcelorMittal that hold 49%. The company was established in March 2009 to undertake the construction, commissioning and operation of two new reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.
AECL is a Canada-based company specialized in nuclear technology. The company cooperated with Nuclearelectrica for the second NPP unit, in 2007.
Though the investment for the completion of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant units 3 and 4 might seem too high, MacDiarmid says fuel savings for the country will be great.
“A hydrocarbon-based energy source means lower costs than a nuclear reactor. However, fuel costs at a hydrocarbon-based energy source accounts for 20% of its annual operating costs, while at a nuclear reactor, fuel costs account for only 6%”, MacDiarmid stressed.
As for the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 project in Romania, AECL will undertake activities such as design, authorization and assessment of the existing infrastructure and safety conditions, for which the Canadian company will get €8 million on an annual basis.
“The contract is for one year, but we will provide consulting services after the contract expires if needed”, said MacDiarmid.
The Units 1 and 2 already in service provide 20 per cent of Romania’s electricity supply. Once complete, the Units 3 and 4 will increase the country’s nuclear energy capabilities and around 35-40% of the country’s energy supply will come from nuclear sources.
“I don’t know whether the share of 35-40% of nuclear energy in the country’s electricity supply can be deemed high, since in France for instance, nearly 70% of the national energy supply comes from nuclear sources”, AECL CEO added.
EnergoNuclear is owned 51 per cent by Romanian-utility Nuclearelectrica SA along with joint venture partners CEZ, GDF-Suez, Enel, RWE Power, Iberdrola and steel producer ArcelorMittal that hold 49%. The company was established in March 2009 to undertake the construction, commissioning and operation of two new reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.
AECL is a Canada-based company specialized in nuclear technology. The company cooperated with Nuclearelectrica for the second NPP unit, in 2007.