KHNP nears clinching deal to build nuclear waste processing facility in Romania

A nuclear power plant in Cernavoda, Romania / Courtesy of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power

By Lee Kyung-min

Korea's state-run energy firms and private entities are closer to winning a deal to build a nuclear waste treatment facility in Romania, according to market watchers, Tuesday.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Korea Electric Power Corp. Engineering & Construction (KEPCO E&C), Hyundai E&C and Samsung C&T have cleared a quality screening test commissioned by SN Nuclearelectrica S.A. (SNN), a partially state-owned Romanian nuclear energy company.

The Korean entities will soon be able to ink a deal with SNN to build a tritium removal facility (TRF) at a nuclear power plant in Cernavoda, the only nuclear power plant in Romania. It produces around 20 percent of the country's electricity. The project will be worth about 250 billion won ($195 million).

The TRF is designed to reduce the volume of tritiated water, allowing the reuse and recycling of tritium instead of releasing it into the environment.

The facility can greatly reduce the amount of radioactive waste in nuclear power plants.

Korea built a similar facility at Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant in 2007 and has been operating it since.

“We plan to demonstrate capabilities with the facility construction, laying the groundwork for further partnership with the Eastern European country,” a KNHP official said.

Romania first started seeking bids for the 250 billion won project in June 2021.

But the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) took issue with the bidding process at the time, pushing back its timing by about a year.

KHNP ended up being the sole bidder alongside the local private firms.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with his Romanian counterpart Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca during his visit to Eastern Europe last month and asked for cooperation in the energy sector.

Romania is pushing to build two nuclear reactors at Cernavoda, while its existing two units need prompt maintenance. The whole project will need 11 trillion won.

Operation of unit 1 at the plant will be suspended in 2026. It will take up to four years of maintenance work before resuming operation.

Romania initially sought to partner with China General Nuclear Power (CGN). But it withdrew the plan in 2020 due to concerns about possible diplomatic friction with the U.S.