Fluor, in partnership with a joint venture (JV), has secured a limited notice to proceed (LNTP) for the design phase of Units 3 and 4 at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania.
The contract was awarded by EnergoNuclear, a subsidiary of SN Nuclearelectrica, during a ceremony at the UN COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Fluor-led JV includes AtkinsRéalis company Candu Energy, Sargent & Lundy, and Ansaldo Nucleare.
Under the terms of the LNTP, the JV will prepare the data required for a final investment decision (FID), including engineering and construction plans, cost estimates, schedules, and preliminary nuclear safety assessments.
The JV will also develop two new CANDU reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, enabling Romania to nearly double the production of clean, reliable and affordable electricity.
AtkinsRéalis, the original equipment manufacturer for CANDU technology, will oversee the design, engineering, and procurement of the reactors.
The proposed reactors will adhere to European Union (EU) directives and interface with Romania’s nuclear regulator, the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN).
The initial phase of the project is valued at $224m, with the potential for further expansion based on commercial agreements.
Once the first phase is completed, EnergoNuclear may issue a full notice to proceed with the services necessary to complete Units 3 and 4, subject to the agreement of commercial terms.
The financing of the new reactors is expected to be supported by $3bn from the government of Canada along with additional capital from other governments.
AtkinsRéalis president and CEO Ian Edwards said: “This is a game-changing contract for AtkinsRéalis and Romania. As the sole commercial licensee of world-renowned CANDU technology, we are uniquely positioned to contribute to the vast expansion of the world’s clean power.
“CANDU technology is at the forefront of relevant, up-to-date and differentiated nuclear technologies in the world. We are honoured to help power Romania well into the end of the 21st century with these brand new CANDU reactors.”
Currently operated by SN Nuclearelectrica, the Cernavoda nuclear power plant generates approximately 1.4GW of electricity through its two operational units, meeting around 20% of Romania’s electricity demand.
Since their inception in 1996 and 2007, the existing CANDU reactors at the Cernavoda facility each with a capacity of 720MW have collectively prevented the release of over 215 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Fluor LNG and power business president Pierre Bechelany said: “Nuclear energy is a safe and clean source of reliable baseload electricity, which is critically important to meeting growing power demands globally.
“Fluor is pleased to be a part of such an important project for Romania and eastern Europe.”
