Romania’s 2nd nuclear reactor gets approval to operate at full capacity

Tests are still being performed at the second unit, according to the manager of CNCAN’s nuclear reactors department Lucian Biro, and authorization will be handed over once they are officially completed. Birosaid that when at full capacity, the second nuclear unit, in combination with the first, will cover some 20 percent of Romania’s energy needs.

Nuclearelectrica, the company in charge of Romania's sole nuclear power plant in Cernavoda, was allowed to increase the power of the second reactor by 50 percent in August this year.

CNCAN said the approval was granted after a series of check-ups and after the company met all standards for nuclear safety.

Cernavoda’s second nuclear reactor went online on August 7. The reactor was initially scheduled to be connected to the network in the last week of July.

Cernavoda’s second nuclear unit was constructed based on a deal clinched with Atomic Energy of Canada and Ansaldo-Italy in 2003. The Candu 6 reactor contained by the nuclear unit is the second after another was installed in 1996.