Russians have plans for Cernavoda

Russia is ready to participate in building the third reactor of the nuclear power plant in Cernavoda, Alexander Pochinok, Russian Labour and Social Development minister said after a meeting with Dan Ioan Popescu, Romanian Trade and Economy minister, RIA Novosti reports. “This is a very safe reactor and poses no threat to the environment,” Pochinok stated. He mentioned Russia was actively developing nuclear power exports and offered a new type of much cheaper and more durable reactors. On the other hand, he explained LukOil and Gazprom were interested to develop oil and natural gas partnerships in Romania. Pochinok said Romania had recently made a series of decisions that encouraged the Russian investors to develop projects on this market. One of the most important such investors is the Mechel Group, which has an investment programme running in Romania, while other Russian companies are participating in tenders for various projects, he added. Only Reactor 1 of all the Cernavoda nuclear plant is operational now, and it covers more than 10% of Romania’s annual electricity consumption. Reactor 2 is 40% finished, with works scheduled for completion in 2006. ZF