Press Release

Nuclearelectrica Completes First Continuous Concrete Pour for the Permanent Structures of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 Refurbishment Project

Bucharest, May 18, 2026

 SN Nuclearelectrica SA announces the completion of the first continuous concrete pour for the permanent structures of the Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 Refurbishment Project, representing the most complex operation of this type carried out at the plant site since the construction of Unit 2. Approximately 3,470 m³ of concrete was used for the foundation, equivalent to about 380 concrete mixer trucks, with the operation carried out under strict safety, quality, and operational coordination standards specific to such a major project.

The concrete pouring work took place at the Intermediate Radioactive Waste Storage Facility (DIDR-U5), involving the pouring of its foundation, DIDR-U5 being the facility designed and built for the handling, processing, and interim storage of waste resulting from the refurbishment of Unit 1 and the long-term commercial operation of Units 1 and 2 at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant.

“In September 2025, Nuclearelectrica obtained from the Commission for the Control of Nuclear Activities (CNCAN) the construction permit for the Interim Radioactive Waste Repository; this marked the moment when, in accordance with the work schedule, civil construction work began on the infrastructure necessary for the implementation of the Cernavodă NPP Unit 1 Refurbishment Project. The pouring of the first concrete for the construction of the infrastructure required for the refurbishment of Unit 1 holds a significance similar to that of the pouring of the first concrete during the construction of Unit 1. After 30 years of operation at high nuclear safety standards and with world-class performance in terms of capacity factor, Unit 1, through the refurbishment program, will continue to operate for another 30 years starting in 2030. Another 30 years of energy security, 5 million MW produced annually, and 5 million tons of CO2 avoided annually—a strategic project for Romania’s energy security.”—Cosmin Ghita, General Manager of Nuclearelectrica.

Designed and planned to be developed in three major phases, the Cernavodă NPP Unit 1 Refurbishment Project is currently in its second phase of development—preparation for implementation—with a completion date toward the end of 2027, when the project will enter its third and final phase of development—the shutdown of Unit 1 for refurbishment.

Unit 1 of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant will be reconnected to the National Power Grid in 2030 for a new 30-year operating cycle. Unit 1 of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned in 1996, and to date, the operation of Unit 1 has prevented 145 million tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and has safely delivered over 149 million MWh, with a capacity factor exceeding 90%, ranking it among the top three nuclear reactors globally in terms of capacity factor.

 “With significant developments in recent years at the EU policy level, nuclear energy plays an important role in the EU’s energy mix, contributing to security of supply and decarbonization goals. Installed nuclear capacity in the EU is projected to reach 109 GW by 2050 (base case scenario), resulting from the extension of the operational life of existing reactors and the construction of new high-capacity reactors. Romania currently possesses all the advantages for developing the nuclear industry—experience, know-how, specialists, infrastructure, an integrated nuclear fuel chain, and long-standing international partnerships in the development of the Romanian nuclear program, and the trust of international banking institutions—all of which collectively represent essential capabilities for expanding the Romanian nuclear program through the refurbishment of Unit 1, followed by the Units 3 and 4 project and the Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Project.”—Cosmin Ghita, General Manager of Nuclearelectrica.

In accordance with nuclear industry rigors, the organization and execution of all construction work specific to the Unit 1 Refurbishment Project are carried out in compliance with the highest industry standards and practices.