Canadian, Romanian industry groups extend cooperation
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The MoU was signed in Bucharest yesterday by OCNO Director of Operations Marina Oeyangen and Romatom Administrative Director Mihaela Stiopol.
The agreement outlines several ways the two organisations will continue to work together in identifying opportunities for nuclear suppliers in Romania and Canada. It will also encourage and facilitate cooperation among Canadian and Romanian institutes and universities on nuclear research, development and education.
The MoU was signed at the end of the first day of a joint meeting of the Canada-Romania Nuclear Industry organised jointly by Romatom and the Canadian Embassy. The trade delegation led by OCNI had senior officials from 15 major nuclear supplier companies engaged in joint meetings with Romanian manufacturers as well as officials from the Ministry of Energy. The delegation also had a site visit to the Cernavoda nuclear power plant and discussed ongoing project opportunities with personnel.
Founded in 1979, OCNI is an association of more than 200 leading Canadian suppliers to the nuclear industry in Canada and abroad. OCNI member companies collectively employ more than 12,000 people who manufacture major equipment and components and provide engineering services and support to the 19 operating Candu plants in Canada as well as to Candu and light water reactor plants abroad.
Romatom has more than 35 member companies that work in nuclear power equipment manufacturing, construction, engineering design and other services that support the nuclear industry in Romania.
OCNI President Ron Oberth said: "OCNI celebrates this MoU signing and looks forward to continuing a strong working relationship with the Romanian nuclear supplier community in supporting the life extension of Cernavoda units 1 and 2, and in developing future nuclear projects in Romania that will lead to a secure energy supply in the region, creation of jobs in both Romania and Canada, and to further technological developments."
"Romania and Canada are long-term partners in nuclear energy beginning with the development of units 1 and 2 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, which are among the best performing nuclear units in the world in terms of capacity factor since in-service," said Romatom Executive Director Gheorghe Lucaciu. "We are confident that future cooperation between our organisations will yield future successful projects."
Cernavoda 1 and 2 - both 650 MWe Candu 6 reactors - began operating in July 1996 and August 2007, respectively. They supply almost 20% of Romania's electricity. Two further similar Candu reactors are planned for the Cernavoda site.
