Romania and Argentina Nuclear Power Companies Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Deepen CANDU 6 Heavy Water Reactor Technology Cooperation

Romania's National Nuclear Power Company (SNN) and Argentina's Nuclear Power Company (NASA) signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding on Thursday. According to a press release issued by the Romanian company, the two parties will engage in in-depth cooperation in the operation and development of CANDU 6 heavy water reactor technology.

Both companies possess strong technical strength and rich practical experience in the engineering design, daily operation, equipment maintenance, large-scale project management, life extension, nuclear safety analysis, and reactor operation of CANDU 6 technology nuclear reactors.

Argentina's Nuclear Power Company had previously successfully completed the refurbishment and upgrade of the Embalse Nuclear Power Plant, which uses CANDU technology; meanwhile, Romania's National Nuclear Power Company is currently advancing the second phase of the refurbishment of Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, and is simultaneously carrying out the second phase implementation planning for the construction of Units 3 and 4.

Romania's National Nuclear Power Company pointed out that in-depth cooperation and experience exchange between the two major operators will provide solid technical assurance and significant advantages for the smooth implementation of the Unit 1 refurbishment project at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant.

According to the agreement, the two parties will focus on exploring cooperation opportunities in key areas related to CANDU 6 technology details, reactor life extension, unit refurbishment and modernization, materials engineering, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, control and instrumentation processes, nuclear safety analysis, fluid mechanics, and reactor physics.

In addition, the scope of cooperation between the two parties will further extend to supporting the construction of new nuclear power units, as well as sharing experience in unit commissioning and startup.

Mihai Gioara, Director of Development and Equity Management at Romania's National Nuclear Power Company, stated in the press release that cooperation between the two major CANDU nuclear power operators in core technical areas will effectively promote operational optimization, project implementation, and new capacity commissioning through the absorption of practical experience and lessons learned. Both enterprises have deep expertise in CANDU 6 technology, and this cooperation is essentially a peer review with substantive mutual benefit value in the medium and long term, which will comprehensively strengthen the domestic and global nuclear energy industry system.

To ensure the implementation and advancement of various cooperation contents, the two companies will jointly establish a steering committee specifically responsible for identifying cooperation opportunities and formulating specific roadmaps for advancement.