Government form in Romania is that of a republic, according to the Constitution adopted in 1991 and modified in 2003.

The capital is Bucharest Municipality. It is organized into six administrative sectors. The first documentary mention of the city was on 20.9.1459, as the residence of Vlad Tepes. The capital of Romania since 1862, Bucharest Municipality is the most important political, economic and cultural-scientific center of the country. Legislative power is represented by a two-chambered parliament (Chamber of Deputies and Senate), and executive power is held by a government led by the Prime Minister, who is appointed by the country’s President. The President of Romania is elected by universal vote based on general election results, for a 5-year mandate.

Official language: Romanian.

National day of Romania: December 1.

National anthem of Romania: “Wake up, Romanian”.

National currency: "RON" (Romanian Leu), “Ban” subdivision.

Country code: +40

Romania has been an EU member since 1^st January, 2007 and a NATO member since 29^th March, 2004.

Source: National Institute of Statistics

Romania is situated in the geographical center of Europe (southeast of Central Europe), north of the Balkan Peninsula, and halfway between the Atlantic Coast and The Urals. The lower course of the Danube passes through Romania for 1,075 km, before exiting into the Black Sea. Romania is the 12^th largest country in Europe, with an area of 238,391 km².

Romania’s Black Sea coastline is 245 km long, stretching from Masura stream, at the Ukrainian border, to Vama Voche, at the border with Bulgaria. This coastline provides access to countries in the Black Sea basin, in the Mediterranean Sea basin and, through these, to the rest of the world.

Romania's natural landscape consists of three major levels. The highest level is found in the Carpathians, where the highest peak, Moldoveanu, is 2,544 m. The middle level corresponds to the Sub-Carpathians, to the hills and to the plateaus. Romania’s lowest level of reliefe is found in its plains, meadows and in the Danube Delta. The Danube Delta, the youngest relief unit under permanent formation, has an average height of 0.52 m. Main features of the relief units are their proportionality (31% mountains, 36% hills and plateaus, 33% plains and meadows) and the concentric display of the major relief levels.

Romania’s climate is temperate-continental of transition, with oceanic influences from the west, Mediterranean ones from southwest and continental-excessive ones from the east. Multiannual average temperature is latitudinally different, with 8°C in the north and over 11°C in the south, and altitudinally different, with values of -2.5°C in the mountain floor (Omu peak - Bucegi massif) and 11.6°C in the plain (Zimnicea town - Teleorman county).

Yearly precipitations decrease in intensity from west to east, from over 600 mm to less than 500 mm in the East Romanian Plain, under 450 mm in Dobrogea and about 350 mm by the seaside. In the mountainous areas they reach 1,000-1,500 mm.

Most Romanian running waters have their source in the Carpathians. They are predominantly tributaries of the Danube River, which crosses the country in the south and flows into the Black Sea. There are natural lakes (numerous genetic types) spread in all major units of relief, from glacial ones in the alpine floor (Mioarelor Lake in Fagaras, at 2,282 m) to river-maritime banks (Techirghiol Lake, at 1.5 m) and anthropic lakes.

The vegetation is determined by the relief and by pedoclimatic elements. Mountainous regions are covered by coniferous forests (especially spruce fir), mixture forests (beech, fir, spruce fir) and beech forests. Higher peaks are covered by alpine lawns and by bushes of dwarf pine, juniper, bilberry, red bilberry, etc.

In the hills and plateaus, there are broad-leaved forests, of predominantly beech, common oak or durmast oak. The main forest species, often met on low hills and high plains, are Quercus cerris and Quercus frainetto.

The steppe and silvosteppe vegetation, which covered the areas of low humidity in Dobrogea Plateau, Romanian Plain, Moldova Plateau, Banat and Crisana Plain, has been mostly replaced by agricultural crops.

Romania has various useful minerals resources. They include crude oil, natural gas, coal, especially coking pitcoal, brown coal and lignite, ferrous and nonferrous ores, gold, silver and bauxite ore deposits. There are vast reserves of salt, as well as numerous nonmetalliferous resources. A special category of subsoil riches is the over 2,000 mineral water springs, with consumption and medical treatments valences.

TABLE 1. POPULATION INFORMATION

* Latest available data

Source: National Institute of Statistics http://www.insse.ro

TABLE 2. GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP)

* PPP: Purchasing Power Parity

** Latest available data

1) Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, October 2012

2) IMF estimate

3) Semi-final data

TABLE 3. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

*   Solid, Liquid: Million tons; Gas: Billion m3; Uranium: Metric tons; Hydro, Renewable: TW

TABLE 4. ENERGY STATISTICS (GWh)

* Latest available data

** Energy consumption = Primary energy consumption + Net import (Import - Export) of secondary energy.

*** Solid fuels include coal, lignite

As part of the economic reform measures passed in 1990, the energy sector was reorganized. Two types of autonomous state enterprises were established: Regies Autonomous (RAs) for the production and supply of energy products, and Commercial Companies (CCs) for support services and activities. This enabled the government to separate policy and regulation from operational functions, to bring accountability, and to institute commercial practices in the energy sector. RAs are state holding companies for sectors considered strategic by the Government of Romania, including electric power, oil, natural gas, lignite, and coal. CCs are joint-stock companies, established under commercial law.

The energy sector is under the supervision of the Ministry of Economy, which formulates policies and strategies.

The Government is currently trying to cope with the current global economic circumstances, with increased energy demand and with clarified requirements for a clean and safe environment. The economic context is characterized by deregulation and competition, supported by the industry.

Current government policy aims to develop an energy sector that promotes a market-oriented economy, in accordance with the relevant EU Directives. Following the general elections of December 2012, the new Government Program for 2013-2016 calls for the updating of the national energy strategy, according to the new evolutions and priorities. Therefore, the Ministry of Economy is to accomplish a new energy strategy. Furthermore, since the beginning of 2013, the energy institutional framework is continuously being revised.

According to the official statistical data for 2007, there were 244 certified environment installations in Romania, and the country’s annual CO₂ emissions stood at 74 million tons. A decrease in the number of said facilities and of emissions was found to have occurred over the interval 2008-2009. The national greenhouse gas emissions cap is currently set at 300 million tons a year.

In 2007, the Romanian government approved a long-term energy strategy, building on the National Energy Strategy on Medium Term.

The government's strategy places emphasis on:

1. increasing energy efficiency

2. boosting renewable energy

3. diversifying import sources and transport routes

4. modernizing lines

5. protecting critical infrastructure.

The strategy aims to create public-private partnerships in different sectors. An example of this can be found in the nuclear field, with the building of two additional units (3 and 4) in Romania's nuclear power plant (NPP) in Cernavoda.

Romania's overall goal is to become an important electricity exporter and to increase power output to a level greater than the domestic consumption.

The Ministry of Economy will periodically update the new energy strategy in the near future according to the new evolutions of the global approach in terms of international market and environmental changes.

The generation, transmission and distribution network consists of the following companies:

1. Termoelectrica S.A., which is the Commercial Company for Electricity and Heat Generation. It is responsible for the production of electrical and thermal energy, and responsible for electricity generation from thermal power plants, district heating, and related fuel supplies. The reorganization process at SC Termoelectrica S.A. continues in a dynamic rhythm, sustained also by government decision 1524/2002 regarding the creation of competitive conditions in the energy production sector.

2. Hidroelectrica S.A., which is the Commercial Company for Electricity Generation and for the production and delivery of hydroelectric power.

3. Electrica S.A., which is the Commercial Company for Electricity Distribution and Supply. SC Electrica S.A. was reorganized in 2002. It is now a group of companies, which includes eight branches for the supply and distribution of electric energy and eight branches for maintenance and energetic services.   Five out of 8 distributors had been privatized by 2007.

4. Nuclearelectrica S.A.  (SNN), which carries out, as its main mission, the production of nuclear power and nuclear fuel and project development at the Cernavoda NPP site. Nuclearelectrica S.A.  has two branches:

1. Cernavoda NPP Division, operating Cernavoda NPP Units 1 and 2 and the auxiliary services

2. FCN - Pitesti, the Nuclear Fuel Plant that manufactures nuclear fuel for Cernavoda NPP Units 1 and 2

In addition, Nuclearelectrica S.A. is associated with the recently settled EnergoNuclear S.A. Project Company, responsible for completion of Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4.

The whole economic and technical operation and development of the electricity sector will be regulated, ruled, supervised and monitored by the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority, ANRE. ANRE was created according to the new Electricity Law, set up by a Government Emergency Ordinance in October 1998, as a public institution, both independent and autonomous.

Electricity grid

Romania has an extensive interconnected power transmission and distribution network, with an overall length of about 600,000 km and a total transformer capacity of about 172,000 MVA. The national grid operates on 750 kV, 400 kV, and 220 kV for transmission, and 20 kV, 10 kV, 6 kV, 1 kV and 0.4 kV for distribution.

Transelectrica S.A. is a member of the Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE) and an observer in the regional group of four transmission system operator companies, CENTREL.

As a limited member of the Interconnected Power System-Central Dispatching Organization, Romania has strong interconnections with Ukraine and Bulgaria, substantial interconnections with the former Yugoslavia, and weaker links to the Republic of Moldova and Hungary. The Romanian grid operator, Transelectrica, is currently co-operating with the electric power systems of Greece and the former Yugoslavia (both UCPTE members), and is working to become more fully integrated into the UCPTE system. The transmission network is interconnected with those of neighboring countries – by 750 kV (4,000 MWe capacity), 400 kV (2,500 MWe capacity), and two 110 kV tie-lines with Ukraine, a 400 kV line with Hungary (currently operating at 220 kV, with a planned capacity of 1,200 MWe), 750 kV (4,000 MWe capacity), 400 kV (2,500 MWe capacity), and 220 kV (260 MWe capacity) lines to Bulgaria, one 400 kV (1,200 MWe capacity) and two 110 kV lines with former Yugoslavia, and two 110 kV lines with Moldova. In 2001, Transelectrica received a $51.5 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to upgrade the Romanian transmission system and make it more compatible with the western European power network.

TABLE 5. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND CAPACITY

(1) Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

* Latest available data

Source: National Institute of Statistics http://www.insse.ro

TABLE 6. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

(1) Net import / Total energy consumption.

* Latest available data

Source: National Institute of Statistics http://www.insse.ro

Dates of reference in the Romanian nuclear energy field

• 1976 - The Romanian-Canadian feasibility study for the CANDU system in Romania is completed

• December, 1978 - The contracts between ROMENERGO and AECL, for the takeover of the CANDU system license and for design and procurement of the nuclear equipment for Unit 1, are concluded

• February 1981 - The contracts between ROMENERGO-Ansaldo (Italy) and General Electric (USA) for the conventional part (BOP) of Unit 1 are concluded

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

• December 1985 - The delivery on site and the installation of the Calandria vessel for the Cernavodă NPP Unit 1

• 1989 - The 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-OSART mission of IAEA to the Cernavoda NPP

• August 1991 - The management contract with AECL-Ansaldo Consortium (AAC) is concluded

• May-June 1995 - The fuel loading of the Cernavoda NPP Unit 1

• April 16, 1996 - The first criticality of the Unit 1 reactor

• July 11, 1996 - The first synchronization to the grid of the Unit 1

• December 2, 1996 - Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 is declared to be in commercial operation

• June 30, 1997 - The transfer of the Unit 1 management and operation responsibilities from AAC to the Romanian personnel

• July 2, 1998 - The setting up of the national company Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica S.A.

• September 30, 1999 - Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 ranks tenth in the world capacity-factor top ten

• February 2003 - Canadian, Italian, French and USA loan agreements are signed with Societe Generale, Credit Lyonnais and Romanian Bank for Development

• March 24, 2003 - The Contract for the Completion and Commissioning of Cernavoda NPP Unit 2 comes into force

• March 30, 2004 - EURATOM Loan is approved by the EC, subject to the implementation of a well-defined improvement package.

• September 21, 2004 - The manufacturing of the nuclear fuel, dedicated to the first load of the Cernavoda NPP Unit 2 Reactor , is started

• September 15, 2005 - The nuclear fuel bundle number 50,000 is manufactured

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

• July 2006 - The successful completion of the pressure test at Unit 2

• September 2006 - The loading of the heavy water in the moderator circuit of Unit 2

• November-December 2006 - The completion of more tests at Unit 2 (leak rate test and hot conditioning test)

• December 2, 2006 - The celebration of 10 years of successful operation of Unit 1

• February 15, 2007 - The loading of the first fuel bundle in the active zone of Unit 2 reactor at 01:29 hours

• February 22, 2007 - The completion of the fuel loading into the reactor of Unit 2, at 23:25 hours

• March 2, 2007 - The loading of the heavy water into the cooling circuit of the reactor

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

• June 2, 2007 - Six consecutive years of Unit 1 operation have been achieved without any flaw-suspected fuel bundles

• August 2, 2007 - 300 days of operation without interruption at Unit 1

• August 7, 2007 - The first synchronization of Unit 2 with the national power system, at 25% of the reactor's capacity of 700 MWe, at 17:21 hours

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

• September 12, 2007 - Completion of contractual 10 day operation without an interruption day

• September 28, 2007 - The management of Unit 2 is turned over to SN Nuclearelectrica S.A.

• October 5, 2007 - The official inauguration of Cernavoda NPP Unit 2

Source: SC Nuclearelectrica S.A.

The three main institutional pillars of the Romanian nuclear field are:

• Nuclear Agency and Radioactive Waste (ANDR) is a specialized authority of the central public administration, acting as a legal person, co-ordinated by the Ministry of Economy. The main object of the activities of the ANDR is to provide technical assistance to the government in devising policies in the nuclear field, as well as to promote and monitor nuclear activities in Romania. ANDR is the national competent authority, coordinating the safe management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, including final disposal, at a national level.

  ANDR elaborates and monitors the implementation of:

• National Strategy for Nuclear Field Development

• National Nuclear Program

• National Commission for Nuclear Activities (CNCAN) is the national competent authority in the nuclear field, exercising the functions of regulation, authorization and control of nuclear activities.

• The national nuclear operator is Nuclearelectrica S.A. The shareholders of Nuclearelectrica S.A. are the Romanian State (90.28%) and „Fondul Proprietatea” (9.72%). Its main activities include electrical power and heat production, NPP construction and commissioning, and nuclear fuel fabrication.

The electricity annually generated by the Cernavoda NPP Units 1 and 2 represents approximately 19% of the overall electricity production of Romania.

TABLE 7. STATUS AND PERFORMANCE OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

Cernavoda Unit 1, having been in operation since December 1996, started the development of the Plant Life Management (PLiM) Programme. Due to its complexity, the programme plan has been divided into several subprogrammes and pilot projects, and integrated with other initiatives for improvement to the long-term strategy of Cernavoda NPP (2004-2008), managed effectively by annual Station Technical Programmes.

The overall PLiM programme is designed to meet the needs of Cernavoda Unit 1 for a structured work programme, and will be implemented in phases. This phased approach will provide the information required for input into its cost model for plant economic assessments.

Source:  IAEA TECDOC 1503

Further nuclear power capacity

In 2002, efforts got under way to resume work on Cernavoda Unit 3. Nuclearelectrica S.A. commissioned a feasibility study from Ansaldo, AECL and KHNP (S. Korea) in 2003.

In August 2004, the government advertised for companies interested in the completion of Cernavoda Unit 3, a 700 MWe Candu 6 unit, through a public-private partnership arrangement. This proved impractical, and a feasibility study in March 2006 analyzed further options for both Units 3 and 4.

Main foreseen characteristics of Cernavoda NPP Units 3 and 4 are:

Policy for nuclear fuel cycle

Current policy is for a once–through nuclear fuel cycle without reprocessing

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

Cernavoda NPP Unit 2 (CANDU 6 PHWR) started operation at the end of 2007. Because there is a difference in operation between the two NPPs of eleven years, and to finalize the decommissioning at the same time, Unit 1 was assigned the SAFESTORE strategy for decommissioning (31 years from shut-down to release from CNCAN control) and Unit 2 the DECON strategy for decommissioning (20 years from shut-down to release from CNCAN control). It is expected that each unit will operate for about 40 years. The decommissioning of Unit 2 is scheduled to begin in 2054. In 2067, after 7 years of preparation in the transition period from operation to decommissioning will be completed.

New Nuclear Power Plant in Romania

The construction of a new NPP after 2020 is under consideration as subject of some studies and evaluatios developed at a governmental level.

The steady annual production of a 720 MWe CANDU nuclear unit can have an output amounting to about 5.2-5.4 TWh (gross). This leads to an equivalent yearly reduction of roughly 1.4 million tons of oil, representing more than US$100 million, and the associated decrease in noxious emissions.

The “Strategy” states that, given present conditions in Romania, and taking into account the cost of energy from nuclear plants versus the costs of fossil fuel power plants, investment should continue for the next units of Cernavoda NPP.

In addition, sites are currently being considered for a second NPP.

At present, R&D programs are addressing problems regarding: the nuclear safety and physics of nuclear reactors, testing of nuclear materials and equipment, development of new concepts of nuclear fuel cycles and advanced reactors, decommissioning (the VVR-S research reactor from Bucharest-Magurele is preparing the decommissioning process), management of nuclear waste, and protection of environment.

The project company EnergoNuclear S.A. was established by Governmental Decision. The current Romanian Government Program states that the selection of new investors and re-negotiations will occur within a public-private partnership.

No data available.

At present, three possible sites might be analyzed for the emplacement of the future NPP.

The Ministry of National Education, governmental organization, co-ordinates the activity of most R&D organizations and institutes through the Minister Delegate for Higher Education, scientific research and technological development.

The Ministry of Economy is the responsible authority for the definition of national participation policies and strategies, for planning and co-ordination of the national nuclear industry activity, representing the State as a shareholder of nuclear assets, and for co-ordination of part of major R&D and engineering facilities. It also has primary responsibility for the safety of its nuclear installations, which is assured through the following organizations:

The Romanian Authority for Nuclear Activities (RAAN), through the Nuclear Research Institute (SCN) Pitesti, is the operator of the TRIGA type research reactor, the hot cell facility and the radioactive waste treatment facility at the Pitesti-Colibasi site. RAAN, through the Center of Technology and Engineering for Nuclear Projects (SITON), is also in charge with support design activities in the nuclear field and, through the Heavy Water Plant (ROMAG-PROD) located in Drobeta Turnu-Severin, of covering the heavy water needs of the Cernavoda NPP.

 Research establishments

Nuclear Research Institute (SCN) Pitesti, under RAAN

The Nuclear Research Institute (SCN) is consistently involved in the work associated with the national nuclear safety programs: nuclear fuel, reactor physics, radiation protection, generic CANDU technologies, and management of radioactive waste. Almost all of the Institute’s activities were oriented towards providing scientific and technical support for the Nuclear Power Program in Romania. The major SCN R&D Programs are focused on:

• Nuclear safety, to ensure the technical and scientific support needed for the safety assessment of Cernavoda NPP during its lifetime

• Nuclear fuel, to elaborate technology and new methods to optimize fuel utilization in Cernavoda NPP

• Radiation protection, to integrate all aspects regarding ecological impact of nuclear power and to develop techniques for operating nuclear  installations based on ALARA principles

• CANDU technologies intended to ensure an optimized maintenance of NPP systems and components;

• Radioactive waste management, to solve the problem of radioactive waste generated by nuclear facilities in accordance with national legislation and international standards;

• Radioisotopes and irradiation techniques.

Center of Technology and Engineering for Nuclear Projects (SITON) Bucuresti-Magurele, under RAAN

SITON supports the nuclear programme in Romania with a large range of services under a regime of quality assurance, through using internationally recognized codes and standards (ASTM, ASME, IEEE, ISI, IEC, CSA series and IAEA guidelines etc.). SITON services cover the following:

• detailed design for process and support systems associated with a CANDU-600 NPP, as well as civil design for the reactor building, the turbine hall, the service building, spent fuel and waste management and detailed design for adjacent installations and support systems for nuclear research reactors and labs

• reliability and probabilistic assessment studies

• nuclear safety analyses, including environmental impact analyses in case of accidents, fires, earthquakes, flooding etc.

• thermohydraulic calculations and stress analyses for various working regimes, using specialized computer programmes

• 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

• technical assistance for equipment fabrication, installation, testing and commissioning as well as for the testing and commissioning of process systems

• land registering and requirements for area classification

• analyses and optimizations of power consumption

• prognoses regarding the national power-system development, especially nuclear power trends

Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering “Horia Hulubei” (IFIN-HH) Bucuresti-Magurele, under the co-ordination of the National Authority for Scientific Research (ANCS)

The Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering performs research activities in the nuclear field and on radioactive waste treatment, and is the owner of the type VVR-S research reactor and the national LL and IL radioactive waste repository. It also operates the multi-purpose irradiation facility. Its main activities are focused on:

• Nuclear technologies

• Technological irradiation using neutrons, gamma rays and charged particles

• Neutron activation analysis; X-ray fluorescence

• Industrial defectoscopy

• Magnetic resonance and tomography

• Methods, instruments and devices using radioactive sources

• Tracer applications to hydrology and geology

• Radiochemistry; polymerization in radiation fields

• Radio-pharmaceutical production

• Nuclear radiation metrology

• Primary and secondary standards

• Etalons for use in the field of nuclear radiation research and applications

• Quality assurance and control

• Neutron metrology

• Radiation biophysics and biochemistry

• Low-dose irradiation effects on biological systems

• Interaction of nonionising radiation with living systems

• Cytotoxic effects due to internal contamination with tritium

• Non conventional biochemical techniques: RIA, EIA, ELISA, biosensors

• Pharmacology of labeled components of medical use and of U and Th compounds

• Metallic pollutants in biological structures

• Biokinetics of radionuclides and whole body monitoring

• Radioecology

• Development of a decision support system for nuclear emergency

• Techniques and procedures for radioactive and chemical pollutants

• Transfer mechanisms and ecological lifetime of radionuclides

• Models for transfer and dose prediction of radionuclides

• Use of radioactive tracers in agriculture and the environment

• Environmental transfer and conversion of tritium from CANDU reactor

• Nuclear risk assessment for the public and environment

• Nuclear medicine

• Computerized tomography

• Automatic systems for medical diagnosis

• Apparatus and devices for nuclear medicine and environment monitoring

• Software for nuclear medicine and environmental applications

• Nuclear energy

• Nuclear instruments

• Non-fuel cycle radioactive waste collection, treatment, conditioning, interim, storage and disposal

• Nuclear data

• Computation methods

• Decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities

• Instrumentation for nuclear research and technologies

• Gas detectors for applications in industry and medicine

• Detectors for radiation dosimetry and environmental radioactivity

• Data acquisition systems

• Modular electronic equipment for research and application in industry

• NMR and EPR methods and instrumentation

• Magnetometers for space applications

 National Institute of Research and Development for Isotopic and Molecular Technologies (ITIM), Cluj-Napoca

ITIM is an institute for scientific research and technological development, under the co-ordination of ANCS.

The research activities of the Institute for Isotopic and Molecular Technology are pointed in several significant directions:

• Stable isotope physics

• Selective excitation in laser radiation field

• Low temperature distillation (-196°C, liquid nitrogen) for the separation of oxygen, carbon and boron isotopes

• Chemical isotopic exchange

• Thermal diffusion

• Synthesis of stable isotopes labeled

• Analytical methods and instrumentation

• Stable isotopes separation and labeled compounds

• Separation of oxygen and carbon isotopes by cryogenic distillation

• ¹⁵N Labeled compounds

• Environment survey and protection

• Separation of uranium from radiation-contaminated waters

• Methods for geological characterization of rocks, with stable isotopes

• Determination of highly sensitive counting technique for long-life radionuclides, determination applied in radioecology and dating

National Research Institute of Cryogenics and Isotopic Separations (ICSI), Ramnicu Valcea

ICSI is an institute for scientific research and technological development, under the co-ordination of ANCS. It was founded with the aim of researching and verifying the technologies for heavy-water separation and further treatment of tritium. The principal directions of its activities are:

• Research into equilibrium and hydrogen isotope (tritium, deuterium) separation processes, inclusive of the industrial pilot plant level

• Research and development of cryogenic processes, equipment, and, specifically technologies and experimental stands

• Research into the equilibrium and gases separation process of purification and forward recovery technology

• Achievement and development of advanced materials as adsorbents, catalysts, composites and fullereness

• Development of methods, apparatus and equipment for control of isotopic separation processes and achievement of cryogenic temperatures

• Development of static and dynamic equipment specifically for isotopic separation processes

• Direct utilization of own research in production (ultra pure gases, gases and gas mixtures, equipment, sodium sulphide, analysis apparatus, risk studies, expertise)

• Technology transfer

National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics (INFLPR), Bucuresti-Magurele

The National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics performs research activities in laser physics, plasma physics, and physics of electron beams, under the co-ordination of ANCS. The main research and development activities are focused on:

• Fusion plasma physics, theoretical studies and numerical simulations of the plasma evolution in tokamak devices

• Physics and technology of plasma produced by high-power particle beams and X-radiation in ultra fast transient plasmas

• Plasma surface engineering

• Crystal growth by plasma methods

National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics (IFT), Iasi

The research activity of the National Institute of Research and Development for Technical Physics, under the co-ordination of ANCS, is directed in several significant directions:

• Magnetic materials and devices

• Special alloys and hard magnetic materials

• Magnetic separation and high Tc superconductivity

• Magnetometry and magnetic detection

• Non-destructive control

Taking into consideration the selection process of a proper site for a new NPP in Romania beyond 2020, the construction of a Generation III reactor is most likely.

Romania also participates in international programs concerning advanced reactor systems, such as INPRO, with its three projects (SYNERGIES, PROSA and ROADMAPS) involving the main research institutes of the nuclear field.

In the nuclear field, international co-operation mainly aims at ensuring the safety and reliability of nuclear facilities. For this goal, Romania is carrying out active co-operation activities consisting of: information exchange, training courses and international meetings, elaboration of studies, expertise, design, tests, research and common regulations, thereby enhancing and sharing their experience and expertise. All these contribute to a permanent improvement of the qualifications of personnel.

IAEA provides Romania with technical assistance through a Country Programme Framework, aiming to identify and address short- and medium-term objectives and interests, and national development priorities. Nuclear Agency is the National Contact Point for the Technical Co-operation (TC) with IAEA.

Romania is an active participant in the technical co-operation regional, European and international programmes in the following areas: strategic planning for sustainable development of nuclear institutions, research reactors, radiation medicine, isotopic technologies for water resources, NPP Probabilistic Safety Assessment, radioprotection and nuclear techniques used in agriculture.

In the 2012-2013 TC Cycle, Romania is coordinating five active projects: ROM 2/009, ROM 6/016, ROM 6/017, ROM 9/031, ROM 9/032. The responsible institutions for these projects are: ICSI Rm. Valcea, The Oncologic Institute of Fundeni, IFIN HH, ANDR, CNCAN.

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

Since 2007, Romania is member of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation – IFNEC, which took over some of the political and economic tasks of the former GNEP. In 2012, Romania attended the IFNEC Steering Group meeting and the third IFNEC Executive Committee meeting, both held in October last year in Rabat/Morocco.

Romania also joined the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GI), in 2007. Signing the GI Declaration of Principles, Romania ceded all legal instruments needed for prevention of nuclear terrorism acts: prevention, early detection, combating and investigation. Romania is represented in the organizing committees of the working groups. Romanian scientists are actively involved in international research projects, such as: INPRO, ITER, GIF, Framework Programme 7 EURATOM, JRC, CERN. Many of them are also associated with projects developed within the international research network or in co-operation with international research institutes (e.g. Joint Institute for Nuclear Research DUBNA).

Nuclearelectica SA is an active member of international specialized organizations and entities, such as WANO-Atlanta Center (World Association of Nuclear Operators) and COG (CANDU Owners Group), benefiting from a continuous exchange of experience in the field.

Nuclearelectrica SA is also a member of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). It has developed an effective and large partnership within IAEA European regional co-operation programs.

Under IAEA’s aegis, Romania grants technical assistance to nuclear specialists from developing countries that operate CANDU nuclear power plants or intend to start or enlarge nuclear programs.

National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN): is the national competent authority in the nuclear field, exercising the powers of regulation, authorization and control, as provided under the Law 111/1996 (on the safe deployment of nuclear activities, republished).

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change: is responsible for environmental protection legislation and regulations, and for the licensing process from an environmental protection point of view.

Ministry of Economy: co-ordinates the Pressure Vessel Authority (ISCIR), which is responsible for licensing and control of pressure vessels, boilers and other pressure installations, including those from the nuclear field.

Ministry of Health: is the authority responsible for organizing the monitoring network for contamination with radioactive materials of food products throughout the whole food chain, including drinking water as well as other goods designated to be used by the population, according to the law. It is also responsible for the epidemiological surveillance system of the health conditions of personnel who are professionally exposed, and of the hygiene conditions in units in which nuclear activities are deployed.

Ministry of Interior: is responsible for control of fire protection at nuclear installations and for supervision of the physical protection of nuclear installations and nuclear material.

Ministry of Public Finance: is the authority in charge of providing and controlling financial support from governmental budgetary funds.

Since December 2000, CNCAN is an independent governmental body. The president of CNCAN is the Secretary of State. CNCAN is responsible for full surveillance and control in all issues relevant to nuclear safety regarding siting, construction, commissioning, operation of nuclear plants, research reactors and all nuclear facilities in Romania. In addition, CNCAN is charged with full surveillance and control in all issues relevant to quality assurance, radiation safety, safeguards, export/import control, physical protection and emergency preparedness, and monitoring the radioactivity of the environment. CNCAN is the National Counterpart to the IAEA for nuclear safety, radiation safety, safeguards, physical protection, emergency preparedness, illicit trafficking events reporting, IRS and INES reporting systems and Safety Convention reporting activities. CNCAN plays the role of regulatory body integrator in the licensing process of nuclear installations.