Romanian president Basescu: New safety features to be included in tender for Cernavoda 3 and 4 reactors

Romania’s President, Traian Basescu said at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul that the tender file for the country’s Cernavoda power plant 3 and 4 reactors will be changed in order to include new safety features, because of the accident at Fukushima. The tender could be launched in the second part of the year. “Those now preparing the documents for the 3 and 4 reactors should consider that they must find another cooling solution, beyond water from the Danube, because [...]. What happened at Fukushima showed us that we must have imagination when we think about the safety level of nuclear installations,” said Traian Basescu. Moreover, the Romanian President stated that safety at the nuclear plant’s 1 and 2 reactors will also be improved. “Reactors 1 and 2 will not remain as they are. The accident at Fukushima made us think, in the way I’ve told you, about reactors 1 and 2. So, we have to improve the level of safety, taking into account an unthinkable situation. We must imagine the worst,” he added. The Romanian Ministry of Economy has extended unSeptember 15 the deadline for the submission of investors’ offers to participate in the development of reactors 3 and 4 of Cernavoda nuclear power plant. The two reactors will have an installed capacity of some 720 MW, and will double Cernavoda’s production capacity. Romanian President participated at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul held between March 26 and 27, together with 52 other state leaders. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com