Romania’s Nuclearelectrica, FALCON sign MoU to develop next gen reactor

The purpose of the MoU is to establish a framework of collaboration between the two parties regarding pre-project works, research and development activities to be implemented in order to develop the generation IV reactor ALFRED, Nuclearelectrica said in a press release.

Nuclearelectrica and the FALCON Consortium, which comprises Ansaldo Nucleare, ENEA and ICN, agreed on the exchange of information and data on the technology of fast neutron reactors using molten lead as a cooling agent as well as on coordinating their research activities.

"At the global level, there are few states that develop new nuclear technologies, and Romania is one of them. The ALFRED project is internationally considered a promising last-generation technology. It is a complex project, with many technological, security and economic benefits that we want to see in commercial exploitation in as many states as possible after the completion of the project," Nuclearelectrica general manager Cosmin Ghita said.

The Cernavoda power plant, located in southeastern Romania, has two reactors of 700 megawatts each, which meet roughly a fifth of the country's electricity needs.

Nuclearelectrica shares traded 0.30% higher at 13.38 lei ($3.09/2.82 euro) by 1232 CET on Monday on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

Romania's energy ministry holds a 82.49% stake in Nuclearelectrica.

In May, Nuclearelectrica said it has signed a preliminary investors agreement (PIA) with two Chinese companies for the construction of Units 3 and 4 at Cernavoda NPP.

(1 euro =4.7483 Romanian lei)