First concrete poured for tritium removal facility

Tuesday, 3 June 2025

It will be the first such facility in Europe, and just the third in the world, with Romania hoping that it will help the country become a European centre for the production and export of tritium, which is expected to be used in future fusion reactors.

Nuclearelectrica and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract in June 2023. The construction project completion is estimated at 50 months. 

What will the facility do?

As a Candu pressurised heavy water reactor ages, tritium - an isotope of hydrogen - accumulates in its moderator and heat transport systems. Increased levels of tritium can significantly contribute to personnel dose rates and emissions levels in the environment. Tritium removal technology is designed to capture and process tritium so that it can be properly stored and recycled, thereby reducing environmental impact and enhancing workplace safety.

The Cernavoda tritium removal facility (CTRF) will use technology developed by the Romanian National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies, a scientific research and technological development unit under the coordination of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalisation.

The tritium removal facility will include several high-technology areas: liquid phase isotopic separation, cryogenic distillation and high-vacuum operation. The tritium extracted will be stored in secure and safe specialised containers ready for future uses.

In quotes

Romania's Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said: "Today we are making history ... this achievement demonstrates that Europe’s energy future can be built in Romania, through the minds and work of Romanians. Furthermore, this project positions Romania as a European centre for the production and export of tritium, the candidate fuel for nuclear fusion reactors such as ITER. Tritium production adds to the integrated Romanian nuclear cycle."

Cosmin Ghita, CEO of Nuclearelectrica, said: "This project represents not only technological progress, but also our commitment to a cleaner and safer environment. It is an innovative project, coordinated by expert teams, a project that puts Romania, once again, on the global map of nuclear industry development. The collaboration between Nuclearelectrica and KHNP exemplifies the power of international partnerships in achieving common goals."

Joo-ho Whang, president and CEO of KHNP, called the pouring of first concrete a "significant milestone", adding: "Just as every structure relies on a strong and flawless foundation, we sincerely hope that the solid concrete poured today - free of cracks - will serve as the steadfast base upon which the tritium removal facility will be successfully constructed. KHNP remains fully committed to working in close cooperation with SNN (Nuclearelectica), as we have always done, to ensure the successful delivery of this project."

Nuclear power in Romania

Cernavoda is the only nuclear power plant in Romania and consists of two 650 MWe Candu-6 reactors. Unit 1 went into commercial operation in 1996 and unit 2 in 2007. Operator Nuclearelectrica plans to extend the operating life of unit 1 to 60 years. Most of the work on units 3 and 4 was done in the 1980s prior to the fall of the government of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. Work is now planned to complete them.