3 May (NucNet): Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) has awarded a contract related to the commissioning of Romania’s Cernavoda-2 – scheduled to go online in March 2007 – to a Chinese company.
The AECL-led Cernavoda project management team awarded the contract, for testing equipment and technical services for the reactor building proof pressure and leak rate tests, to Beijing Jianhuan Technology and Trade Company. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Beijing Jianhuan performed similar tests for the two Candu-6 units at the Qinshan phase three nuclear power plant where the first unit (Qinshan 3-1) has been in commercial operation since 2002 and the second (Qinshan 3-2) since 2003.
Cernavoda-2 is a 655-megawatt (MW) Candu-6 pressurised heavy water reactor under construction at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant about 200 kilometres east of the Romanian capital, Bucharest. AECL said in a statement it is nearing 90% completion and scheduled to go online in March 2007.
AECL’s senior vice-president and chief operating officer Ken Petrunik said because of projects such as Qinshan, Chinese companies have quickly developed localised capabilities in line with international nuclear practices, particularly in relation to construction, commissioning, operation, design and engineering. “AECL will continue to cooperate with Chinese companies and institutes to develop the Candu product in China and to support and market Chinese capabilities internationally,” said Dr Petrunik.
AECL’s project management team for Cernavoda-2 also consists of Ansaldo Energia of Italy, and plant owner and operator, the Romanian utility Nuclearelectrica.
Cernavoda-1, also a Candu-6 unit, has been in commercial operation since 1996. Completion of Cernavoda-2 will bring Romania’s reliance on nuclear energy to 18%, said AECL. The existing nuclear share of total domestic electricity production is nearly 60 terawatt hours (TWh), equivalent to 9.3%.
In 2005, Cernavoda-1 generated 5.555 TWh of electricity (gross), a record in the unit’s more than nine years of commercial operation.
Candu reactors have been operating in Canada since 1962, and abroad since 1972. According to AECL, there are 34 Candu reactors completed or under construction worldwide.
