CTRF Project

CTRF Project (Cernavodă Tritium Removal Facility)

The CTRF project at Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is one of Nuclearelectrica’s most ambitious strategic proiects. Its main objective is to reduce tritium concentrations in the heavy water systems of the CANDU reactors at Units 1 and 2. This project is critical for minimizing the environmental impact of tritium and enhancing the operational efficiency of Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.

Project Description
The Tritium Removal Facility (CTRF) will extract tritium from the heavy water used in the reactors’ cooling and moderation systems. This will enable the indefinite reuse of heavy water without it becoming radioactive waste. Furthermore, the recovered tritium will be safely stored and can potentially be used as fuel in future fusion reactors.

Implementation Timeline

• 2022: The execution contract (EPC) was signed with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), selected for the project due to its extensive experience with similar facilities.
• 2023: The process of obtaining the necessary authorizations commenced, along with the initial construction works.
• 2024: The project obtained the Location Authorization, the Construction and Assembly Authorization, and the Building Permit, followed by the commencement of construction activities.
• 2026: Commissioning tests for the Tritium Removal Facility are expected to begin.
• 2027: Trial operation of the facility will start, leading to its handover for full operational use.
  
  

Benefits and Impact

Environmental and Population:

• The CTRF project exemplifies Cernavodă NPP’s commitment to improving environmental performance through:
  • Reduced occupational exposure to tritium for plant workers, contributing to better health protection for personnel;
  • Lower tritium discharges into effluents, with a positive impact on public and environmental safety;
  • Minimized tritium concentrations in the radioactive waste generated at Cernavodă NPP, further supporting environmental and public protection.
    
    
• Socio-economic Benefits:
  • Over 100 jobs are expected to be created during the implementation phase of the project.
  • Once operational, the facility will generate approximately 50 permanent positions for technical and operations personnel.
    
    
• Contribution to Nuclear Fusion: The extracted tritium can be utilized in future fusion reactors, positioning Romania as a potential supplier of fusion fuel.
  
  

Financing

The estimated total cost of the project is €254 million, of which €150 million is financed through a loan granted by the European Investment Bank (EIB).