Representatives of China Nuclear Electric will come to Bucharest this July for discussions with the Romanian Government over possible involvement in the Cernavoda 3 and 4 reactors project, said Prime Minister Victor Ponta, during his official visit to China. He also added that the investors might hold the majority stake in this project, according to local news agency Mediafax.

The Romanian state, via Nuclearelectrica, currently owns 84.65 percent in the Cernavoda project. The other shareholders are Enel - with 9.15 percent and ArcelorMittal Romania - with 6.2 percent of the shares.

The EUR 4 billion project for the two nuclear reactors has been on Romania’s table for the last six years, with several investors initially interested, but then withdrawing: CEZ, RWE, Gaz de France and Iberdrola.

Romania’s Cernavoda nuclear power plant produces around 20 percent of the country’s energy. The Cernavoda site is designed for five CANDU 6 reactors. Initial construction on the site commenced in 1982, with the intention of completing all five units. Unit 1 has been in operation since December 1996 and Unit 2, since October 2007.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com