The energy sector contributes to the development of Romania, influencing the economy, quality of life and the environment. In order to sustain consumer expectations for the long term, Romania’s energy sector seeks to become more robust from the economic point of view, more advanced from the technological point of view and overall less polluting.

Romania’s energy policy is harmonized with European policies and focuses on three pillars: ensuring energy security, competitiveness and sustainability. Achieving these goals requires the transformation of the energy system by developing the necessary infrastructure, which is the substance of a new national strategic project.

In the context of European energy and climate change policies, in place since 2007, Romanian energy policy must account for the energy and environmental objectives adopted by the European Council for 2030, as well as the initiatives launched by the European Commission to set up the Energy Union and promote the Clean Energy Package. Within this context, European energy and climate change policies will affect the development of a new Romanian energy strategy that will fit in the context of the agreed objectives at the European level:

• A mandatory European Union level target of reducing domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990;

• A European Union wide target of 27% renewable energy consumption by 2030;

• An indicative European Union target of improving energy efficiency by 32% by 2030;

• The completion of an internal energy market by meeting the goal of a 15% interconnection target by 2030.

The draft strategy is still being developed, taking economic competitiveness into account, in addition to the accessibility to consumers and the participation of Romania to achieve European decarbonization targets, according to national specificities.

The draft strategy has five fundamental objectives:

1. Ensuring energy security;

2. Creating a competitive energy market, strongly integrated into regional markets and the European single market;

3. Promoting clean energy — bolstering clean, low carbon energy sources in line with European policy and the provisions of the Paris Agreement;

4. Modernizing the energy governance system;

5. Reducing energy poverty and protecting consumers.

Romania seeks to maintain a balanced energy mix that ensures energy security and balances energy independence provided by the efficient use of national resources and interconnectivity with neighbouring countries in the region as an alternative, including in critical situations. It is intended to keep diverse fuels — oil, natural gas and coal in addition to uranium — as a part of the energy mix over the upcoming decades, in parallel with the increasing contribution of renewable resources. In light of these considerations, the main directions of action of the energy policy are the following:

• Continuing infrastructure development and natural gas supply;

• Increasing the flexibility of the national energy system through digitization and smart networks and by developing the category of active consumers;

• Developing high efficiency cogeneration, in parallel with the modernization of district heating systems;

• Increasing the energy efficiency of homes to mitigate energy poverty;

• Reducing the level of energy poverty and protecting consumers.

Source: Romanian Energy Strategy Project 2016–2030, with the perspective of 2050.

Table 1 contains information on available energy by source.

TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES (optional, n.a.)

*Solid, liquid: million tonnes; gas: billion m³; uranium: metric tonnes; hydro, renewable: TW.

**All information about national resources in Romania is classified.

n.a.: Data not applicable.

Table 2 contains energy statistics.

TABLE 2. ENERGY CONSUMPTION

*Latest available data, please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth.

—: data not available.

Source(s): United Nations Statistical Division, OECD/IEA and IAEA RDS-1 ;

(http://statistici.insse.ro/shop/index.jsp?page=tempo3&lang=ro&ind=IND108A)

The national power system represents all the power plants that are involved in the production, transport, distribution and operation of electricity. National power system operations depend on the situation of these installations and on issues related to energy resources, market elements and the requirements of regulations in the field. Currently, Romania has a balanced and diversified energy mix, owing to the existence and capitalization of its energy resources, which makes the national energy sector competitive at the regional level.

Coal is a basic component of the energy mix, being a pillar of national energy security.The power plants are the first energy units built into the system, yet much of these generating capabilities are over 30 years old. At present, programmes are under way to upgrade, modernize, and invest in environmental improvements for these energy units according to the European requirements. The biggest problems faced by coal units are mainly related to adaptation to environmental requirements and to the increasing price of CO₂, which implicitly leads to an increase in the price of energy produced and a decrease in the competitiveness of these units in the energy market.

In extreme weather, both in summer and winter, coal fired power plants cover about one third of the electricity demand when other energy sources become unavailable. Natural gas has a share of about 30% of domestic primary energy consumption. Hydropower plants contribute between 15 and 20% of electricity production, depending on the availability of resources. The renewal of the hydrocarbon capacities is related to a significant upward trend in capabilities in the coal sector. The new technologies of these units, with quick start and combined cycle (steam/gas), give them an important role in balancing the national power system.

Nuclear power, a low carbon energy source currently accounting for a significant share of total national electricity production (about 18%), is a core component of Romania’s energy mix, supported by an internal infrastructure covering an open nuclear fuel cycle, which allows the country independence in the production of nuclear energy.

Romania has rich and varied renewable energy resources as well, including: biomass, hydropower, geothermal potential, wind, solar and photovoltaic energy. Development potential in the biomass sector is still high, especially through efficiency and the introduction of new technologies, such as biorefineries and biogas production capacities. Judicious management of forests is a basic condition for the use of wood for energy. Geothermal resources are only marginally exploited in Romania, but there is a potential for increasing the use of these resources in the coming decades.

The transmission and system operator, Transelectrica S.A., coordinates the power flows of the national power system by controlling dispatchable production units. The dispatchable units are those which, from the National Energy Dispatcher, can be switched on, switched off or adjusted in terms of power. Although dispatching involves additional costs for manufacturers, it makes it possible to balance the national power system in extreme situations. Of the total gross power available of nearly 20 000 MW, only 3000 MW are non-dispatchable.

In Romania, the distribution of electricity is a regulated activity being carried out by eight distribution operators to which the State has leased the power distribution service. In this sector, sustained investment is required to achieve a high level of performance, in line with consumer expectations as well as their degree of supportability. Electricity distribution operators attach great importance to investments in upgrading and developing maintenance networks and operations, which aim to improve the quality of consumer services and food security, among others.

The main electricity production indicators are shown in Table 3, and Table 4 contains energy related ratios.

TABLE 3. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION

*Latest available data, please note that compound annual growth rate may not be representative of actual average growth.

**Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

—: data not available.

Source: United Nations Statistical Division, OECD/IEA and IAEA RDS-1

TABLE 4. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

*Latest available data.

Source: RDS-1 and RDS-2

—: data not available.

Dates of reference in the Romanian nuclear energy field:

• 1968 — Launch of the national nuclear programme.

• 1970 — Inauguration of the Heavy Water Pilot and Nuclear Power Plants and Facilities Design Division. 

• 1971 — Founding of the Institute for Nuclear Technologies as a technological support for the nuclear power programme in Romania.

• 1976 — Completion of the Romanian–Canadian feasibility study for the Canada deuterium–uranium (CANDU) system in Romania.

• December 1978 — Contracts between ROMENERGO and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) for the takeover of the CANDU system licence and for design and procurement of the nuclear equipment for Unit 1 are concluded.

• February1981 — Contracts between ROMENERGO and Ansaldo (Italy) and General Electric (United States of America) for the conventional part (balance of plant) of Unit 1 are concluded.

• 1982 — First containment concrete is poured (reactor building base slab).

• December 1985 — Delivery on-site and installation of the calandria vessel for the Cernavoda NPP Unit 1.

• 1989 — Installation of the fuel channels at the Cernavoda NPP Unit 1.

• December 1989 — Romanian revolution; the Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 is 45% complete.

• July 1990 — The first Pre-Operational Safety Review Team (Pre-OSART) mission of the IAEA to the Cernavoda NPP, which leads to the recommendation of creating a management team with international experience in nuclear power projects.

• August 1991 — The management contract with AECL–Ansaldo Consortium is concluded.

• May–June 1995 — The fuel loading of Cernavoda NPP Unit 1.

• 16 April 1996 — The first criticality of the Unit 1 reactor.

• 11 July 1996 — The first synchronization to the grid of Unit 1.

• 2 December 1996 — Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 is declared to be in commercial operation.

• 30 June 1997 — The transfer of Unit 1 management and operation responsibilities from AECL–Ansaldo Consortium to Romanian personnel.

• 2 July 1998 — The creation of the national company Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica S.A. (SNN) by dividing the RENEL energy conglomerate, with SNN on one side and the Autonomous Authority for Nuclear Activities on the other.

• 30 September 1999 — Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 ranks tenth in world capacity.

• February 2003 — Canadian, French, Italian and US loan agreements are signed with Societe Generale, Credit Lyonnais and the Romanian Bank for Development for Unit 2 completion.

• 24 March 2003 — The contract for the completion and commissioning of Cernavoda NPP Unit 2 enters into force.

• 30 March 2004 — European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) loan is approved by the European Commission, subject to the implementation of a well defined improvement package.

• December 2005 — The completion of Unit 2’s main systems and transfer of procedures to the commissioning team, comprising a total of 154 systems.

• 6 May 2007 — The initiation of the chain reaction (criticality) at Unit 2, at 23:25 hours.

• 7 August 2007 — The first synchronization of Unit 2 with the national grid, at 25% of the reactor’s capacity of 700 MW(e), at 17:21 hours.

• 12 September 2007 — Unit 2 reaches full power for the first time during commissioning tests.

• 28 September 2007 — The management of Unit 2 is turned over to SNN.

• 5 October 2007 — The official inauguration of Cernavoda NPP Unit 2.

• 25 March 2009 — Incorporation and registration of EnergoNuclear project company, responsible for the construction of Units 3 and 4.

• November 2010 — The European Commission grants a positive opinion on Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 in compliance with the provisions of Article 41 of the FORATOM Treaty, which certifies the application of technical and nuclear safety criteria.

• 25 September 2013 — The environmental agreement for continuation of the construction work and completion of Units 3 and 4 is obtained.

• November 2013 — Listing of SNN shares on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

• August 2014 — The Government of Romania and the SNN general meeting of shareholders approve the strategy for the continuation of Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 and the launching of a new selection procedure for investors. An extensive negotiation process with the selected investor was carried out until 2019 aiming at concluding the investment documents; a revision of the strategy was approved in 2018 amending certain procedural aspects.

• 12 June 2020 — The general meeting of shareholders (GMS) approves the items introduced on the agenda of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders by the majority shareholder, the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment, regarding the abrogation of the strategy for the continuation of the project (2014 and 2018 revision), and the empowerment of the Board of Directors to cease the negotiations with CGN. The Board of Directors of SNN is also empowered to take the necessary actions for the assessment and crystallization of the strategic options regarding the construction of additional nuclear energy production capacity in Romania.

FIG. 1. The main players involved in the nuclear power programme.

The main institutional pillars (Fig. 1) of Romania’s nuclear field are the following:

• The energy sector is under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment, which formulates policies and strategies. The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment establishes the national strategy in the energy field and is the major shareholder in the nuclear energy production sector, nuclear research and engineering, nuclear fuel and heavy water production.

• The Ministry of the Environment, Waters and Forests is the central authority for environmental protection and has specific responsibilities in this domain in the licensing and control of nuclear installations.

• The National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN) is the nuclear safety and security regulatory authority of Romania, responsible for the regulation, licensing and control of nuclear activities, ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the protection of the public and workers from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

• The Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency (ANDR) is a specialized authority of the central public administration, acting as a legal entity coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment. It is responsible for promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the related research and development programmes. ANDR is the national competent authority responsible for coordinating the pre-disposal management of spent fuel and radioactive waste from operations and decommissioning, being responsible for its safe disposal.

• SNN is the owner and operator of the Cernavoda NPP. The company includes two subsidiaries (not legal persons), one for nuclear power production (Cernavoda NPP) and one for nuclear fuel production (Nuclear Fuel Plant — FCN Pitesti). SNN is a government owned company, coordinated by the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment. The company was listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange in 2013 and, in its current shareholding structure, the Romanian State (through the Ministry of Energy) owns 82.49% percent of the shares. The remaining percentage is owned by Fondul Proprietatea (7.05%) and other shareholders (10.46%). Its main activities include electrical power and heat production, NPP construction and commissioning and nuclear fuel fabrication.

• The state owned nuclear energy company (RATEN) is the strategic legal entity in Romania coordinating research and development (R&D) activity in the nuclear energy field, and maintains and develops the scientific and technologic support for the national nuclear energy programme. RATEN is subordinated to the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment and manages two subsidiaries: the Institute for Nuclear Research (RATEN ICN) and the Centre of Technology and Engineering for Nuclear Projects (RATEN CITON). The two organizations provide scientific, technical and engineering support (as technical support organizations) for the safe operation of the Cernavoda NPP new build and for the other installations and projects that are part of the national nuclear power programme.

• The National Uranium Company (CNU), government owned and subordinated to the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment, is responsible for uranium mining and milling activities, including geological research and exploitation activities for uranium ores, ore processing and refining, and commercialization of dioxide of uranium (UO₂) and octoxide of uranium (U₃O₈). Currently, CNU is undergoing reorganization. As per the strategy for the diversification of the raw material supply sources necessary for the production of nuclear fuel approved by SNN GMS on 25 April 2018, SNN is carrying out due diligence for the potential takeover of the Feldioara U₃O₈ processing line of CNU. As per Law No. 193/2018, the UO₂ produced by CNU is sold at a regulated tariff and SNN procures it given the availability of the stock and the fulfilment of the quality criteria.

TABLE 5. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Cernavoda NPP Units 1 and 2, both in operation (Table 5), provide approximately 18% of the total energy generated in Romania. In 2019, the two units at the Cernavoda NPP produced a gross total of 11 280 166 MW?h. Unit 1 registered a capacity factor of 93.86% and Unit 2 of 89.18% (owing to a planned outage). Based on the service capacity factor of both units (91.6%), Romania has a high capacity factor of nuclear power plants worldwide, according to Nuclear Engineering International.

The Romanian energy strategy does not provide for the completion of Cernavoda NPP Unit 5 as it does for Units 3 and 4; instead, it requires the capitalization of the works and assets to be used in relation to the operation of the other units. The feasibility study for the change of scope of Unit 5 was completed in 2011.

2.2.2.1.Regulatory framework

2.2.2.2. Lifetime extension of Unit 1

2.2.2.3. Improvement actions implemented based on lessons learned from Fukushima Daiichi accident

TABLE 6. STATUS OF DECOMMISSIONING PROCESS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

n.a.: Data not applicable.

Currently, there are no decommissioned nuclear units in Romania (Table 6).

Brief history and main decisions

The Government of Romania has adopted Decision No. 643 of 2007 approving the strategy for investor selection for the Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 project (Table 7).

On 29 March 2009, the project company was registered as EnergoNuclear S.A. with the National Trade Register Office and the management team was appointed. EnergoNuclear was a public–private capital company formed by the selected investors (ArcelorMittal Romania (6.2%); CEZ, Czech Republic (9.15%); GDF SUEZ, Belgium (9.15%); ENEL, Italy (9.15%); Iberdrola, Spain (6.2%); RWE Power, Germany (9.15%) and SNN (51%).

In 2011, the investors GDF SUEZ, CEZ, RWE and Iberdrola withdrew from the project, in addition to ENEL and ArcelorMittal. Since 2014, SNN has been the sole shareholder of the project company EnergoNuclear S.A.

On 22 August 2014, the SNN GMS approved the strategy for the continuation of the Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 project through the launch of a competitive selection procedure for a private investor with a view to setting up a joint venture. The selection procedure was launched on 27 August 2014, and the qualification phase was completed on 9 September 2014, when CGN was declared the qualified investor. After analysis of the documentation of intent, CGN was declared a selected investor on 17 October 2014 by the signing of a joint letter on the intention to complete the project.

On 10 April 2019, the SNN GMS approved the preliminary investors’ agreement on Units 3 and 4 at Cernavoda NPP concluded between China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), CGN Central and Eastern Europe Investment (RO) CO.S.A. and Nuclearelectrica S.A. National Company.

As per the resolution of the SNN GMS of 12 June 2020, the items placed on the agenda by the majority shareholder, the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment, were approved as follows:

- The abrogation of the strategy for the continuation of Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 project through the organization of an investor selection procedure (2014) as well as the revised strategy for the continuation of Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 project through an investor selection procedure (2018).

- The empowerment of the SNN Board of Directors to initiate the procedures/undertakings/actions regarding the ceasing of the negotiations with CGN, as well as the ceasing of the legal effects (through party agreement, denunciation etc.) of the following documents: “The Memorandum of Understanding regarding the development, construction, operation and decommissioning of Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 (MoU), and respectively of the (ii) Investors Agreement in preliminary form.”

- The empowerment of the SNN Board of Directors to initiate the necessary undertakings for the analysis and crystallization of the strategic options regarding the construction of additional nuclear energy production capacity.

TABLE 7. PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Policies for front end and back end nuclear fuel cycle (mining, converting, enriching, fabricating, reprocessing and managing spent fuel and waste, etc.)

Romania developed an open nuclear fuel cycle which covers extraction of uranium ore, processing and refining of uranium ore into UO₂, the manufacture of nuclear fuel, burning the nuclear fuel in nuclear reactors to produce electricity and storage and disposal of radioactive waste and spent fuel, without ensuring spent fuel reprocessing.

In 2018, the Nuclearelectrica GMS approved the strategy for the diversification of supply sources and the gradual transition to the procurement of U₃O₈ which will be processed into UO₂ by the Feldioara processing line belonging to the National Uranium Company. In August 2018, the GMS approved the initiation of a due diligence analysis in view of a possible takeover by SNN of the Feldioara processing line. On March 30, SNN GMS approved the initiation of the procedures to take over the Feldioara processing line as well as the transfer of the mining license for the Tulghes-Grinties perimeter.

Strategy for funding long term storage of spent fuel and final disposal, waste management and decommissioning

SNN makes the following contributions to the decommissioning and safe disposal of nuclear waste funds administered by ANDR:

• Contribution for the decommissioning of the units in operation of EUR 0.6/MW?h of energy produced and delivered to the national power grid;

• Contribution for the disposal of the radioactive nuclear waste and spent fuel of EUR 1.4/MW?h of energy produced and delivered to the national power grid.

The main organizations involved in the implementation of the Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 project are the following:

• SNN — The operator of Cernavoda NPP Units 1 and 2 and the owner of Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4. The construction licence is issued by the regulatory body, CNCAN.

• The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment — Part of the negotiation process, responsible for decision making and approving the mandate of the State’s representative in the GMS of SNN.

As per the GMS resolution of 12 June 2020, SNN Board of Directors was empowered to initiate the necessary undertakings for the analysis and crystallization of the strategic options regarding the construction of additional nuclear energy production capacity. Any future endeavours related to the continuation of the nuclear programme in Romania will be subjected to the attention of SNN shareholders in compliance with the legal provisions which are mandatory for listed companies.

The current economic and electricity market context does not adequately provide supportive conditions to develop the large electricity infrastructure projects necessary for the electricity sector. The implementation of contracts for difference (CfD) financing instruments, as used in the United Kingdom, has been initiated in Romania, as the Ministry of Energy commissioned a study about their impact and implementation for energy sources without greenhouse emissions in Romania.

According to “General Principles for the implementation of a CfD type support mechanism for producing low carbon emission energy”, a document issued by the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment (MEEBE) in public consultation in November 2019, the CfD which is going to be implemented in Romania will be dedicated to 4 technologies:

• Technology for employing renewable sources;

• Nuclear technology, for new units;

• Technologies for energy storage;

• CCS (carbon capture and storage)/CCU (carbon capture and utilization) technology for energy production capacities based on fossil fuels.

The support mechanism will allow the predictability of investment recoverability and will be based on current market conditions at the time of its approval; an approval from the European Commission for the support mechanism will be necessary.

The Cernavoda Tritium Removal Facility (CTRF) Project using LPCE — CD (Liquid Phase Catalytic Exchange — Cryogenic Distillation) technology is aimed at extracting the tritium from the heavy water in the moderator and thus ensuring a significant reduction of the radioactive emissions to the environment and of the internal dose to professionally exposed personnel. It represents an opportunity to contribute to global tritium supply for fusion, mainly with respect to ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) as well as to recover and use helium-3 resulting from tritium disintegration.

The production of Cobalt-60 at Cernavoda NPP. Cobalt-60 is a radioactive isotope used in medicine for cancer treatment, sterilization of the equipment as well as in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The production of Cobalt-60 at Cernavoda NPP represents a business opportunity, since there is an international market for the sale of this material. SNN is currently performing preliminary studies and pre-feasibility testing in cooperation with Nordion Inc. Canada.

The development of small modular reactors (SMRs). In 2019, Nuclearelectrica signed a memorandum of understanding with NuScale company with the purpose of information exchange and cooperation regarding the development of the innovative NuScale technology. SMRs could become a long term solution for Romania. The NuScale project is currently under licensing review by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

Not applicable.

SNN organizes national opinion polls once every two years in order to measure public awareness and trust in relation to the use of nuclear power in Romania. The most recent opinion poll was conducted in 2018. The public in Romania generally has a favourable opinion of nuclear power projects (67% support the construction of Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 and 60% agree to the life extension of Unit 1). The level of information of the population about nuclear power has also risen and the concerns about safety issues have decreased (risk of accident 13%, risk or radiation contamination 18%). The most important arguments perceived by the population in support of nuclear power are the lower cost of nuclear power (41%) and energy independence (33%). Forty-two per cent of the population (increasing from 34%) consider that Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 should be developed as soon as possible and in cooperation with foreign investors. For the first time in the history of opinion polls carried out by SNN, a plurality (43%) consider that the benefits of nuclear power outweigh the risks (37%), and 56% of the population understand the fact that the production of nuclear power is safe in Romania. These positive results are due to the communication and public information efforts of SNN, as the main promoter of nuclear power. The opposition to nuclear projects in Romania is not significant, though some opposition has been posed by organizations such as Greenpeace and Terra Mileniul 3. SNN promotes a collaborative approach to non-governmental organizations, making information available and being open to discussion.

Nuclearelectrica has concluded an agreement with Romanian National Constabulary for security and protection services at Cernavoda NPP, without charge, in compliance with the international best practices in the nuclear field. This agreement is of significant importance for the security of the site and ensuring a quick response against any threat.

Regia Autonoma pentru Tehnologii Nucleare (Technologies for Nuclear Energy State owned Company) - RATEN

Established on 1 October 2013 owing to the reorganization of the Romanian Authority for Nuclear Activities and separating the R&D and technological engineering activities, RATEN provides technical support for the nuclear power activities in Romania. The company is organized and acts as a strategic Romanian legal entity, coordinating R&D in the nuclear power field, maintaining and developing the technical competencies throughout the entire lifetime of the nuclear installations, and being involved in the energy strategy development and achievement of the scientific and technical objectives of the national nuclear power programme.

RATEN’s main activities include the following:

1. Research, design and technological engineering activities;

2. Technology development as national scientific and technical support concerning the safe operation of nuclear installations;

3. Technology development for the new type of Generation IV reactors;

4. Technology development for spent fuel and radioactive waste management;

5. Radioisotope production for medicine and industry;

6. Competence maintenance in the nuclear field, education and training of new specialists;

7. Development of competencies and capabilities in the nuclear field to provide technical support to public institutions.

The RATEN strategy is sustained by an annual R&D programme, which is supported by 18 programmes (www.raten.ro).

RATEN’s main research priorities are the following:

1. To maintain and develop scientific and technical support for the safe operation of CANDU Units of the Cernavoda NPP (including their lifetime extension) and refurbishment of Cernavoda NPP Unit 1;

2. To develop studies and research in the materials and nuclear fuels field, reactor physics, nuclear safety, equipment and instrumentation and control for nuclear power applications;

3. To sustain the research activities for Generation IV reactors;

4. To implement lead cooled fast reactor technology;

5. To manage the characterization and treatment of radioactive waste, environmental and radiation protection, scientific research capacity and technology transfer, and develop and implement nuclear technologies or infrastructure for applications in industry, medicine and physical protection.

The annual R&D programme is funded by the Government of Romania, through the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Business Environment.

RATEN manages two subsidiaries:

1. The Institute for Nuclear Research Pitesti, RATEN ICN (www.nuclear.ro);

2. The Centre of Technology and Engineering for Nuclear Projects Bucuresti Magurele, RATEN CITON (www.citon.ro).

RATEN ICN Pitesti provides scientific and technical support for the safe and economic operation of NPPs, in accordance with national and international agreements. The institute operates its own nuclear research infrastructure licensed and acknowledged by CNCAN:

1. TRIGA research reactor (a pool type, dual-core reactor: SSR — 14 MW and ACPR — peak power 20 000 MW, converted from high enriched uranium to low enriched uranium).

2. Post-irradiation examination laboratory (equipped with facilities and equipment that allow testing, handling and examination of nuclear fuel and structural materials from nuclear power plants, manufacturing sealed sources for industrial radiography).

3. Radioactive waste treatment plant.

4. Out of pile testing department.

5. Nuclear materials and corrosion department.

6. Testing labs for characterization of nuclear spent fuel and radioactive waste, radiological characterization of materials resulting from nuclear practices.

7. Radiation protection, environment protection and civil protection laboratory;

8. Surface analysis laboratory.

RATEN ICN competencies:

1. Nuclear safety assessments;

2. Reactor physics and thermal hydraulics;

3. Post-irradiation examination of materials and nuclear fuel, nuclear materials and corrosion tests;

4. Manufacturing technologies for TRIGA and advanced nuclear fuels;

5. Out of pile testing;

6. Characterization, treatment and conditioning of radioactive waste;

7. Safe disposal of radioactive waste;

8. Electronics, instrumentation and control;

9. Tests and qualifications for nuclear equipment and instrumentation;

10. Radiation protection, environmental protection and emergency preparedness;

11. Radioisotope production for medicine and industry;

12. Education and training in the nuclear field.

RATEN CITON, structured as a design and engineering institute for nuclear projects and to carry out R&D associated with the implementation of the national nuclear programme, performs design and engineering work and provides technical assistance and engineering support for the construction, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities. As a full service engineering institute, RATEN CITON can assist customers with all phases of project implementation, including support development.

RATEN CITON engages in the following activities:

• Detailed design for process and support systems associated with a CANDU-600 NPP;

• Detailed design for adjacent installations and support systems for nuclear research reactors and labs;

• Nuclear safety analyses;

• Methodologies for computation and computer assisted design;

• Technical and economic studies for siting as well as cost estimates for new designs and for operational design modifications for NPP systems and components;

• Thermohydraulic calculations and stress analyses for various operating conditions, using specialized computer programs;

• Technical assistance for equipment fabrication, installation, testing and commissioning;

• Prognoses regarding the national power system development, especially nuclear power trends.

Romania joined the EURATOM R&D initiative devoted to the development of the Generation IV Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) technology and, through RATEN ICN, is involved in R&D and in the construction of the LFR European demonstrator (ALFRED). Following RATEN ICN’s participation in the EU Framework Programme LEADER (https://cordis.europa.eu/result/rcn/147643_en.html), the Government of Romania issued Memorandum No. 20/2925 of February 2011, in which it determined that the country would host the ALFRED demonstrator reactor at the Mioveni nuclear platform. The demonstrator reactor is being developed primarily by the FALCON consortium (Ansaldo Nucleare and ENEA, Italy; RATEN ICN, Romania) and with R&D cooperation with several European organizations. The ALFRED project is included in Romania’s relevant strategies (national research, development and innovation strategy, national research infrastructure roadmap, RATEN strategy). The implementation plan of the ALFRED project is developed by FALCON members, with the support of the national governments of Romania and Italy. It provides the necessary activities for research, design, siting and licensing during four phases (viability, preparation, construction and operation) with a target date for commissioning of 2028. Feasibility studies for the first research, testing and qualification experimental support facilities (addressing thermal hydraulic processes and lead chemistry) and funding applications for construction are evaluated by the project financing authority (Ministry of Education and Research). Since September 2019, the Activities for the Preparation of the ALFRED Research Infrastructure in Romania (PRO ALFRED) project has been funded, in the framework of the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation 2015–2020 (PNCDI III). The PRO ALFRED project aims to carry out preparatory actions to perform research of national and European interest related to the ALFRED demonstrator in Romania (feasibility studies for additional research supporting infrastructures, licensing process preparation, research agenda and experimental programmes, building competencies to implement and operate the infrastructure, technical and economic evaluations).

In September 2007, Romania became an active member of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) by signing its Declaration of Principles. The outstanding importance of this partnership resides in the strengthening of nuclear safety and nuclear risk mitigation through balanced promotion of R&D and partnership in international policy. Romania is represented on the steering committee and in working groups.

Since 2010, Romania has been a member of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC), which took over some of the political and economic tasks of the former GNEP. Romania welcomed the IFNEC Steering Group meeting and associated working group meetings in 2014 and the IFNEC Executive Committee meeting in 2015.

Romania also joined the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) in 2007. Signing the related Statement of Principles, Romania implemented all the legal instruments necessary for prevention/mitigation of acts of nuclear terrorism: prevention, early detection, combating and investigation. Romania participates in the meetings organized by the specific working groups and in the plenary meetings.

Romanian scientists are actively involved in international research projects such as: International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO), Generation IV International Forum (GIF), European Union research framework programme Horizon 2020 EURATOM (2014–2020), and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). Many are also associated with basic nuclear research projects developed within international research networks or in cooperation with international research institutes (e.g. Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Dubna; European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva; Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research (FAIR), Darmstadt).

After its involvement in the IAEA INPRO collaborative projects (Synergistic Nuclear Energy Regional Group Interactions Evaluated for Sustainability (SYNERGIES), Proliferation Resistance and Safeguardability Assessment Tools (PROSA) and Roadmaps for a Transition to Globally Sustainable Nuclear Energy Systems (ROADMAPS)) Romania became the 38th active Member State in INPRO in August 2012. Romania is committed to performing a Nuclear Energy System Assessment (NESA) using INPRO methodology, in the framework of IAEA resources, together with the IAEA’s technical cooperation mechanism. SNN is an active member of international specialized organizations and entities, such as World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) — Atlanta Centre and CANDU Owners Group (COG), benefiting from a continuous exchange of experience in the field. It is also a member of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

RATEN is an active participant in regional, European and international technical cooperation programmes in the following areas: nuclear safety and security, waste management, emergency preparedness and response, specific regulatory issues, research reactors, isotopic technologies, radiation protection and nuclear techniques used in industry, medicine and education.

The following recent collaboration and cooperation are highlighted:

• European Commission

• Participation in EURATOM Framework Programmes for Research and Training (FP7 and H2020): between 2014 and 2019, 13 projects were completed by RATEN ICN as partner, one as associate member and one as coordinator (ARCADIA). In 2019 five H2020 projects were in progress (GEMMA, MEACTOS, CHANCE, TRANSAT and FISRAD) and two grant agreements were signed (PIACE and EURAD).

• RATEN ICN, with the Ministry of Research and Innovation of Romania and European Commission, co-organized the FISA 2019 and EURADWASTE 2019 conferences on the Safety of Reactor Systems and Radioactive Waste Management under the auspices of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2019.

• Participation in the EURATOM call 2019 with six projects (BONSAI, ECC-SMART, ORIENT-NM PASCAL, PATRICIA, PREDIS).

• Participation in the EURATOM–United States International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (INERI) project LFR in Regional Energy Markets: Safety, Sustainability, and Economic Assessment.

• RATEN and its subsidiaries are members of European technological platforms (Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP), Implementing Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste Technology Platform (IGD-TP)), nuclear associations, alliances and cooperative groups (Nuclear Generation II and III Association (NUGENIA), European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), European Cooperative Group on Corrosion Monitoring of Nuclear Materials (ECG-COMON)), the European Technical Safety Organization Network (ETSON).

• IAEA

1. Contracts and research agreements under IAEA coordinated research projects:

1. Benchmarking activities on fuel burnup and material activation with computational tools and data available at TRIGA Romania (Contract RO 18729), completed in 2019;

2. Neutronics Simulations of the CEFR Start-up Tests using Monte Carlo computer codes (SERPENT 2, MCNPX) — Research Agreement 22755/RO;

3. Management of Waste Containing Long-lived Alpha Emitters: Characterization, Processing and Storage.

2. Regional project Enhancing Capacity Building Activities in the European Nuclear and Radiation Safety Organizations for Safe Operation of Facilities (RER 0043), coordinated by RATEN.

3. Romanian representatives in INPRO and its collaborative projects (Comparative Evaluation of Nuclear Energy System Options (CENESO) ROADMAPS, KIND NESA Economics Support Tool (NEST), Regional Training on Nuclear Energy Systems Modelling and Sustainability Assessment, Update of e-learning and distance learning tools to support INPRO training).

4. Practical Arrangements between IAEA and RATEN ICN on Cooperation in the Area of Scientific and Technical Support to Member States in Nuclear Safety and Security, renewed in 2019.

5. Romanian representative in the IAEA networks (Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA), Response and Assistance Network (RANET), Underground Research Facilities Network for Geological Disposal (URF Network).

6. RATEN representative in PWR-HPWR Technical Working Group and observer in Technical Working Group on Fast Reactors (TWG-FR), expert missions, consultative meetings, conferences and courses, fellowship training, IAEA courses and workshop organization.

7. Technical assistance to nuclear specialists from developing countries that operate CANDU NPPs, development of the nuclear technologies applied in radioactive waste management, decommissioning of nuclear facilities, or starting or enlarging of nuclear programmes.

8. Cooperation as partners in memorandums of understanding and cooperation agreements with: AECL and COG (Canada), Romania being a CANDU type reactor owner.

9. Cooperation as partners in the agreement signed between the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and RATEN in the field of nuclear science and technology for peaceful uses.

10. Cooperation with the Department of Energy and General Atomic (United States of America), Ansaldo and ENEA (Italy), CEA and Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (France).

11. Romania is represented in the technical committees, working and expert groups of the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (NEA/OECD) by RATEN specialists.

CNCAN represents the national competent authority in exercising regulation, licensing and control of the nuclear field in Romania, for all the activities and installations under the scope of Law No. 111 of 1996 on the safe deployment, regulation, licensing and control of nuclear activities, republished, with subsequent modifications and completions.

CNCAN has all necessary legal powers to issue mandatory regulations and licences for nuclear facilities and activities and to perform evaluations, inspections and enforcement.

CNCAN is an independent governmental body. It is a public institution of national interest, with legal personality, having its headquarters in Bucharest, chaired by a president with the rank of State Secretary, coordinated by the Prime Minister through the General Secretariat of the Government.

CNCAN has over 50 years of experience and it has an important role in ensuring strict observance of the requirements for nuclear safety and radiation protection in Romania.

CNCAN has the following main responsibilities (Art. 35 of Law No. 111 of 1996):

• Initiates projects for normative acts in its area of competence and issues regulations in the nuclear field, consulting the other authorities with attributions in this domain, as necessary, according to the law;

• Reviews and consents to all the normative acts with implications for the nuclear field, prior to their entering into force;

• Approves, in accordance with the law, the intervention plans for nuclear and radiological accident situations and participates in the intervention;

• Collaborates with the central authority for environmental protection and controls the implementation of the activities of the environmental radioactivity monitoring network;

• Requests the competent authorities in the field of national security to perform the necessary checks for the persons with responsibilities in the field of nuclear activities, in compliance with the specific regulations;

• Initiates, with the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, activities for cooperation with the IAEA and with other international organizations specialized in the nuclear field;

• Cooperates with similar institutions/authorities from other countries;

• Controls the implementation of the provisions of international treaties and agreements in force with regard to safeguards, physical protection, illicit trafficking, transport of nuclear and radioactive materials, radiation protection, quality assurance in the nuclear field, nuclear safety, safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, and intervention in case of a nuclear accident;

• Establishes and coordinates the national system for evidence and control of nuclear materials, the national system for evidence and control of radiation sources and of nuclear and radiological installations, and the national registry of radiation doses received by occupationally exposed personnel;

• Cooperates with other authorities that have, according to the law, attributions with regard to the safe operation of nuclear and radiological installations, correlated with the requirements for the protection of the environment and the population;

• Ensures public information on matters that are under the competency of CNCAN;

• Organizes public debates on matters that are under the competency of CNCAN;

• Represents the national point of contact for nuclear safeguards, for the physical protection of nuclear and radiological materials and installations, for the prevention and combat of illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials, and for radiological emergencies;

• Orders the recovery of orphan sources and coordinates the recovery activities;

• Licenses the execution of nuclear construction and exercises control over the quality of construction for nuclear installations;

• Carries out any other duties stipulated by the law, with regard to the regulation and control of nuclear activities.

CNCAN is completely separate and independent from the organizations involved in the promotion and/or production of nuclear energy, in accordance with the provisions of article 8 in the Convention on Nuclear Safety. CNCAN has all the necessary legal powers to issue mandatory regulations, to issue licences for nuclear facilities and activities and to perform evaluations, inspections and enforcement. The regulations are updated whenever needed to adhere to recent national developments and requirements for nuclear safety and radiation protection in the European Union and the IAEA.

Law No. 111/1996 1996 empowers CNCAN to issue regulations in the following areas:

• Nuclear safety;

• Radiation protection;

• Quality assurance;

• Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons;

• Physical protection of nuclear facilities and materials;

• Transport of radioactive and nuclear materials;

• Management of radioactive waste and spent fuel;

• Emergency preparedness and intervention in case of nuclear accident;

• Manufacture of products and supply of services for nuclear installations;

• Any other regulations necessary for the licensing and control of nuclear facilities and activities.

CNCAN is responsible for ensuring, through the regulations issued and the dispositions arising from the licensing and control (evaluation, inspection and enforcement) procedures that an adequate framework is in place for the deployment of activities under the scope of the law.

The current licensing practice is based on the provisions of Law No. 111 of 1996 and of the regulations issued by CNCAN.

The detailed regulatory requirements, as well as the assessment and inspection criteria used by CNCAN in the licensing process, are derived from a number of sources, such as:

• Romanian regulations;

• Limits and conditions specified in the different licences;

• IAEA Safety Standards and guides;

• Other international standards, guides and recommendations, including regulatory documents developed in other jurisdictions;

• Applicable standards and codes;

• Licensing basis documentation produced by the licensee and approved or accepted by CNCAN (e.g. safety analysis reports, design manuals, reference documents, station instructions, operating manuals, technical basis documents, etc.).

The licences for nuclear installations are granted to legal persons, at their request, if they prove compliance with the provisions of the law and specific regulations issued by CNCAN. The licences are applied for and issued, respectively, either simultaneously or successively, separately for each kind of activity or for each nuclear or radiological installation operating independently, in the property of the applicant.

As stated in the law, the licences shall be issued for the following phases: design, siting, construction, commissioning, trial operation, operation, repair and/or maintenance (such as major refurbishment), modification (such as major upgrades), preservation and decommissioning.

In accordance with the provisions of the law, CNCAN is empowered to request from the licensees, or from the applicants for a licence, all the documentation needed for the regulatory decision making process on safety related matters. The documentation that needs to be submitted to CNCAN for review and approval is usually specified in the regulations, licence conditions, regulatory letters and inspection reports.

Additional support documentation is requested on a case by case basis and specified in regulatory letters, minutes of meetings between CNCAN staff and licensee’s representatives, and the like. In addition to the review of the documentation, CNCAN verifies the claims made by the applicant through audits, inspections, licensing meetings and a system of witness points and hold points.

According to the law, the licensees and applicants have the obligation of facilitating CNCAN inspections and providing access to documentation and any other information requested by CNCAN. The general roles, authority and responsibilities of CNCAN inspectors are set out in the law. The key objective of the CNCAN inspection programme is to monitor compliance with the legal, regulatory and licensing requirements, and to take enforcement action in the event of non-compliance.