Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said that the construction of second nuclear power plant will be finished by 2017 the earliest and it needs investments of EUR7 billion to EUR8 billion, through a public-private partnership. Previously, specialists in the field estimated that works will last until 2025. Adriean said that the location of the plant will be selected in September 2009 and there are two options to consider, one of them being the central county of Sibiu.
Valica Gorea, former president of the Romanian Nuclear Agency, said that the plant’s first unit will be ready in 2025 and the second unit in 2028. Overall, the plant will not have more than three-four units.
Gorea said that originally there are four places to select from, in the counties of Brasov, Sibiu, Arad and Cluj. Gorea also said that the best spot of all is between Fagaras and Talmaciu, on the shore of the river Olt.
According to Gorea, the study conducted to select the place cost RON3.58 million, and has come from industrial development funds. The company in charge with the study analyzed more than 100 places.
Adriean said that the second nuclear plant will have an installed power of around 2,400 megawatt (MW). The recent estimates referred to 3,000 MW.
Romania’s sole nuclear plant is situated in the southeastern town of Cernavoda and counts two reactors of 700 MW installed power each. The country plans to add two other reactors following a EUR4 billion investment, which should be ready around 2016.
The annually electricity produced by the two units in Cernavoda represents around 18% of the country’s total output.