Arabelle and Framatome sign Cernavoda agreements

Arabelle Solutions, which like Framatome is a subsidiary of France’s EDF, will provide equipment and services for the refurbishment of Cernavoda 1’s turbine-generator, as part of the 30-year life extension project.

The agreement with Framatome "establishes the framework under which Framatome and SNN will collaborate to implement the production of lutetium-177 medical radioisotopes at Cernavoda NPP, operate the equipment and infrastructure resulting from the implementation of this project and, in the future, develop other projects related to the production of medical radioisotopes".

Nuclearelectrica and Framatome aim to launch the irradiation commercial service in 2028, helping provide supplies for an area of medicine which now sees around 49 million radioisotopes procedures per year.

Cosmin Ghita, Nuclearelectrica CEO, said: "Our goal is to provide Romania with energy security, clean energy, and standards of excellence through international partnerships, expertise, and local and national development … we want to contribute not only to energy security and the achievement of decarbonisation and ESG targets, but also to areas where nuclear energy can prove its usefulness."

Catherine Cornand, CEO of Arabelle Solutions, said: "We are proud to support the refurbishment of Cernavoda Unit 1, a project of strategic importance for Romania’s energy future. This contract reflects our commitment to delivering proven, reliable, and innovative technologies that enable the safe, long-term operation of nuclear assets, while providing reliable, low-carbon electricity to future generations."

Grégoire Ponchon, CEO of Framatome, said: "This agreement underscores Framatome and Nuclearelectrica’s commitment to strengthening the supply chain for lifesaving radioisotopes in Europe and across the globe. Framatome is proud to leverage its expertise in the fight against cancer and help facilitate mass access to nuclear medicine."

Background

Cernavoda is the only nuclear power plant in Romania and consists of two 650 MWe Candu reactors. Unit 1 went into commercial operation in 1996 and unit 2 in 2007. Most of the work on units 3 and 4 - like units 1 and 2, Candu-6 reactors - was done in the 1980s prior to the fall of the government of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. It was reported in 2021 that unit 3 was 52% complete and unit 4 30% complete. Work is now planned to finish units 3 and 4, with scheduled commercial operation in 2030 and 2031.

The unit 1 refurbishment project began in 2017 and is currently in the second of three phases, with infrastructure work beginning in August for the project. In December Nuclearelectrica signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the estimated EUR1.9 billion (USD2.2 billion) refurbishment with a consortium of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, AtkinsRéalis's Candu Energy, Canadian Commercial Corporation and Ansaldo Nucleare. The third phase, scheduled for 2027 to 2029, starts with the shutdown of unit 1 and includes all the work required on it and its recommissioning.

Candu units are pressurised heavy water reactors designed to operate for 30 years, with a further 30 years available subject to refurbishment. This includes the replacement of key reactor components such as steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder tubes. It involves removing all the reactor's fuel and heavy water and isolating it from the rest of the power station before it is dismantled. Thousands of components, including those that are not accessible when the reactor is assembled, are inspected, and all 480 fuel channels and 960 feeder tubes are replaced during the high-precision rebuild.

EDF completed its acquisition of a portion of GE Vernova's nuclear conventional islands technology and services - including its Arabelle steam turbines - in May last year. The transaction included the manufacturing of conventional island equipment for new nuclear power plants as well as related maintenance and upgrade activities for existing nuclear plants outside of the Americas. EDF's acquisition of the business - at that time, known as GE Steam Power - was first announced in early 2022 and the final agreement was signed in the November of that year.