Four companies showed interest to participate in the construction of the 3 and 4 nuclear reactors in Cernavoda in Romania, having sent letters of intent in this regard, said Minister of Economy, Ion Ariton, without mentioning the company names.  Fondul Proprietatea also wants to be involved in the project, according to Pompiliu Budulan, general manager of Nuclearelectrica.

EnergoNuclear runs the construction of the 3 and 4 nuclear reactors in Cernavoda, whose cost is estimated at EUR 4 billion. The state, through energy producer Nuclearelectrica, now holds the majority stake. RWE, Iberdrola and GDF Suez announced in January that they have withdrawn from the Cernavoda nuke expansion project in Romania, due to economic and market uncertainties surrounding this project

The Romanian government expects Nuclearelectrica to reach a minority stake in EnergoNuclear respectively 40 percent and the difference to be given to potential investors that will replace those who have abandoned the project.  Currently, the Cernavoda plant works with two of the five nuclear reactors and provides nearly 20 percent of national energy consumption.

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