Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has secured a significant contract for the facility improvement of Unit 1 at Romania’s Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant. The contract, worth a total of 2.8 trillion won, was signed on December 19 in Bucharest, with KHNP’s share of 1.2 trillion won.
The project is being carried out through a consortium that includes KHNP, Canada’s Candu Energy, and Italy’s Ansaldo Nucleare. Cernavoda Unit 1, a CANDU-type heavy water reactor, has been in operation since 1996. With its operating license set to expire in 2027, Romania’s National Company Nuclearelectrica (SNN) aims to extend its life until 2030 by upgrading aging equipment and improving plant infrastructure.
The construction for the facility improvement project is expected to begin in February 2025 and will take around 65 months to complete. Candu Energy, the original supplier of Cernavoda Unit 1, will manage the reactor system, while Ansaldo Nucleare will oversee the design and procurement of the turbine generator system. KHNP will manage the overall project, including the replacement of major equipment and the development of key infrastructure such as the radioactive waste storage facility. KHNP’s partners, including KEPCO KPS, Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and Samsung C&T, will also contribute to the project.
This contract comes at a time when countries are increasingly focused on extending the life of existing nuclear power plants. With the global demand for energy rising and the need to reduce carbon emissions, extending the operation of existing plants is often more cost-effective and quicker than building new ones.
KHNP, known for its expertise in both new nuclear plant construction, such as the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE, and facility improvement projects, is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for nuclear plant extensions worldwide.
Hwang Ju-ho, President of KHNP, expressed pride in the contract, stating, “This contract reflects the technological expertise KHNP has built over the past 50 years in nuclear power operations and maintenance, which is now recognized globally.” He further added, “We will continue to strengthen KHNP’s global presence with the successful improvement of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.”
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