Company type | Majority state owned company - 82,49% owned by the Romania state through the Ministry of Energy, 17.50% other shareholders |
---|---|
BVB: SNN | |
Industry | Electricity |
Founded | 1998 |
Headquarters | , |
Number of employees | 2200 |
Website | www |
SN "Nuclearelectrica" S.A. (SNN) is a partially state-owned Romanian nuclear energy company incorporated in 1998 by the reorganization of RENEL. The company is under the authority of the Ministry of Energy, and the state has 82.49% of the shares and other shareholders - 17.50% after listing the company at the stock exchange in 2013.
The field of activity of Nuclearelectrica is the manufacture of electricity, thermal energy and nuclear fuel. Nuclearelectrica is the only producer of nuclear energy in Romania.
The company has two branches:
SNN also has 100% of the shares of project company Energonuclear, incorporated in order to implement the project for Units 3 and 4 of CNE Cernavodă.
The Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant was designed with an initial profile of five reactors with Canadian technology, of CANDU type, with installed power of approximately 700 MW each. Until now (December 2020), 2 units have been built. Unit 1, which became commercially operational in 1996, and Unit 2, which became commercially operational in 2007, collectively ensure approximately 18% of the energy necessities of the country. The power plant began construction during the Nicolae Ceaușescu era and had several delays for various reasons. There are often proposals to finish construction of the partially built units 3, 4 and 5 either in cooperation with Candu Energy (current owner of CANDU technology patents and marketing rights) or some other pressurized heavy water reactor manufacturer. A contract between Candu Energy and EnergoNuclear, a partially owned subsidiary of Nuclearelectrica set up in 2009 to determine the future of Cernavodă units 3 and 4, to finish construction of those reactors was finally signed in late 2021.[1]
The nuclear fuel plant Pitești FCN manufactures nuclear fuel bundles of type CANDU 6 that are necessary for the operation and production of electricity in Units 1 and 2 at Cernavodă, and in the future by doubling the production capacity, it will provide nuclear fuel also for units 3 and 4.
By the Resolution of the General Assembly of Shareholders of SNN of November 2013, the termination of the works at Unit 5 as a nuclear unit and changing its destination in order to use the existing structures in other activities of SNN.
The development of Units 3 and 4 of CNE Cernavodă is part of the energy strategy of Romania until 2030, with year 2050 as a reference, and from the National Integrated Plan in the Field of Energy and Climate Change, as nuclear energy represents a pillar of decarbonization and ensuring the energy independence of Romania.
Also, SNN is implementing the project of refurbishing Unit 1, a project which involves the extension of the lifecycle of the unit by another 30 years, under the same nuclear safety conditions.
The Nuclear Fuel Plant is located near Mioveni, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Pitești.
CANDU fuel is easier to produce than that of many other reactor types as the improved neutron economy of the heavy water moderator allows the use of natural uranium without enrichment. Unlike uranium enrichment plants, a CANDU fuel plant does not produce depleted uranium as waste.
The production of CANDU nuclear fuel started in 1980, by starting up the pilot station as a fuel section within the Nuclear Research Institute (ICN) of Pitești. The Nuclear Fuel Plant was separated as a distinct entity in 1992.
In 1994, the Nuclear Fuel Plant (FCN) was authorized by AECL and Zircatec Precision Industries Inc. (Canada) as a manufacturer of CANDU 6 nuclear fuel.
In 2004–2006, with low investments, FCN Pitești doubled its production capacity in order to ensure the necessary fuel for operating two units at CNE Cernavodă.
In 2007, FCN obtained the TUV EN ISO 14001:2004 certificate for the environment management system.
Annually, FCN Pitești manufactures approximately 10,800 nuclear fuel bundles.
FCN Pitești can provide consultancy, technical support and various equipment to the companies interested in transferring nuclear fuel manufacturing technology.
At CNE Cernavodă nuclear safety is priority 1. There were no incidents or events that would affect nuclear safety at CNE Cernavoda.
Nuclear security as a field is a set of technical and organizational measures designed to:
- Ensure the operation of nuclear installations under safety conditions;
- To prevent and limit their damage;
- To ensure the protection of the personnel, the population and the environment against radiation or radioactive contamination
The nuclear security philosophy of CANDU 6 nuclear power stations is based on these considerations. This philosophy is based on three fundamental principles, namely:
1. The in-depth protection principle, which consists of reaching a high level of technical performance and nuclear security, by raising multiple physical barriers against releases of radioactivity in the environment (the nuclear fuel matrix; the fuel element sheath; the under-pressure chamber of the primary circuit: the envelope system; the exclusion area).
2. The ALARA principle, whose objectives must ensure the protection of the operating personnel, the population and the environment, by setting and maintaining adequate protection against radiological risks.
3. The grouping and separating principle. The grouping the systems with security functions into two groups was approved within the project of the power plant in order to ensure the protection of CNE against common-cause events which would cause large destructions in the nuclear power station, at the same time.
The environment monitoring programs aim to control emissions and verify the compliance with the limits and requirements imposed by the regulation and control authorities, both radiologically and conventionally (non-radiologically).
The Nuclear Power Plant has implemented, starting with the commissioning of Unit 1, an environmental radioactivity monitoring program, based on the requirements of the national legislation and internationally validated practices in the nuclear industry. In compliance with international practices, the plant built and fitted its own Environmental Radioactivity Control Laboratory and established a network of sampling points or positioning continuous monitoring stations, in different locations within a radius of 30 km around the plant.
CNE Cernavodă daily analyzes the following sample types: air (particles under the form of aerosols, iodine, water vapors), soil, sediment, atmospheric deposits, food samples (milk, fish, pork, beef and chicken, vegetables, fruits, eggs, cereals) surface water, drinking water, groundwater, rainwater, infiltration water from the Cernavodă area, and publishes the results at the information centers and information panels in the city.
Measurements of the external gamma dose are also carried out. A network of 62 monitoring points with thermal-luminescent dosimeters for the measurement of the gamma dose has been established around the power plant and across an area with a radius of 30 km. Gamma spectrometry analyzes, global beta analyzes and specific assays for the detection of tritium and C-14 are carried out through liquid scintillation spectrometry. Food samples for the analysis are procured from local producers or from the agri-food market in Cernavoda, Seimeni, Medgidia, Satu Nou. The results of the environment's radiological monitoring are compared with the results of the pre-operational environmental monitoring program carried out in the period 1984 – 1996. Up to now no changes in the radioactivity of the environment in the area of Cernavodă city have been detected, in relation to the period prior to the commissioning of the nuclear unit.
As a producer of energy on the electricity market of Romania, SN Nuclearelectrica SA sells on the wholesale market the energy produced by the two units of CNE Cernavodă.
On the competition-based market, sales are done in compliance with the requirements of Law no. 123/2012 on electricity and natural gas, based on public and non-discriminatory offers, awarded through tenders organized by OPCOM (Romanian Electricity and Gas Market Operator).
Nuclearelectrica sells energy on the following markets:
· On the regulated market - the prices and quantities are set by ANRE. In 2019, SNN sold 1,377 GWh on the regulated market at the price of 188.33 RON/MWh (without Tg), according to ANRE Resolution no. 326/February 25, 2019
· On the competition market by energy sale-purchase contracts on the markets managed by the market operator OPCOM S.A.: mainly PCCB – LE and PCCB - NC (centralized market for bilateral electricity contracts with the method trading contracts by extended tender procedures and the method of trading contracts according to which contracts are distributed by continuous negotiations), PZU (following-day market) and PCSU (universal service centralized market).
· On the Balancing market administered by Transelectrica, in case of positive unbalance;
· Through negotiated sale-purchase contracts. Nuclearelectrica has only one such contract concluded with Transelectrica in the quality of captive consumer for the consumption of the Cernavodă 400 kV station (approximately 1.000 MWh/year).
The acceptance degree of nuclear energy in Romania is high, especially for new investment projects (Units 3 and 4 - 75%, refurbishing of Unit 1 - 68%), as Romanians believe that the low price of nuclear energy and the energy independence of Romania are the most important advantages of nuclear energy.
Saint Mary bridge built over the Danube - Black Sea canal
Nuclearelectrica has gotten involved in increasing the life quality of the people of Cernavoda, by the emergency social program for the improvement of living conditions for Cernavoda and for the construction and operating personnel of the plant.
The works indicated in the legislative act are performed as complementary works to the project "Cernavoda Nuclear Power Station 5 x 700 MWh" and are transferred, without payment to the beneficiary indicated in the legislative act.
At the end of 2008, 11 important projects were completed and commissioned to the beneficiary, the local community. Currently, one project is in progress.
Completed and received works:
1.1 Food store at the location of the nuclear power station
1.2 Kindergarten
1.3 Drinking water station (pumping and treatment)
1.4 Modernization of intersections and streets
1.5 Central heating networks
1.6 "Saint Mary" bridge for the access of cars to the Cernavoda station and to the Fetesti-Cernavoda Highway, over the Danube - Black Sea canal
1.7 Energy High School of Cernavoda
1.8 Hospital with 100 beds and a polyclinic in Cernavoda
1.9 Station for the purification of used and residual water
1.10 Four drinking water fountains
1.11 Apartment complex
In progress:
1.1 Training and recreational center for youth and children in Cernavoda. Until now, the location has been prepared in order to start the construction works.
SNN is also implementing an intense corporate social responsibility program. In 2019, a budget of RON 10,000,000 was allocated for social projects, which impacted 2,000,000 Romanians.
The RSC policy of SNN has the purpose the establishment of strategic orientation and priority directions of its involvement in philanthropic-type actions, charitable and humanitarian for the benefit of the community, in areas nearby nuclear objectives operated by SNN (Cernavoda and Pitesti), as well as nationwide. SNN considers that durable development of the company and the sustainability of its long-term development points are strongly connected with the development, education, information, acceptance and public support before the nuclear energy in Romania. Thus, investing a share of the annual profit of SNN in RSC actions constitutes an integral part of the development strategy of the company for 2015–2025.
RSC objectives:
· Creating and supporting a sustainable business model, with responsible management and global policies adapted to local issues;
· Increasing the level of confidence and support for SNN's business model;
· Addressing the real issues of the community;
· Starting the change we want to see in the Romanian society;
· Development of relations with the local community, NGOs, opinion leaders;
· Attracting young specialists;
· Increasing the level of acceptance for the use of nuclear energy in Romania and for SNN's investment projects;
· Alignment to RSC international standards and good practices practiced by the companies;