New partnership formed between Canadian and Romanian nuclear industry groups to promote cooperation in the field of civil nuclear programs

PARIS (November 30, 2021) – The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) and The Romanian Atomic Forum (ROMATOM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the use and growth of civil nuclear energy through efficient operations and effective policy and to facilitate increased trade and investment in the civil nuclear energy sector.

The MOU builds upon a strong collaboration partnership between the two countries in the nuclear field and focuses on efforts to develop and deploy new CANDU large reactors; rehabilitation and life extension of the existing reactors; and to promote small modular reactors, advanced reactors and related research, development and innovation activities in both countries as well as in third countries.

The MOU was signed at the Canadian embassy in Paris during the World Nuclear Exhibition, in the presence of Romanian Minister of Energy, Mr. Virgil-Daniel Popescu; President and CEO of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Mr. Fred Dermarkar; and Chargée d’affaires at the Embassy of Canada in France, Ms. Amy Baker.

“The signing of this MOU continues our international program of partnering with leading nuclear industry organizations around the world,” said CNA President and CEO John Gorman. “Canada’s nuclear partnership with Romania goes back decades. Nuclear energy already plays a major role in Romanian power supply, with two CANDU reactors at the Cernavoda power plant. Romania has adopted an energy plan that calls for two new CANDU reactors at Cernavoda by 2031 and the refurbishment of an existing unit there in 2026-2028.”

“I am very happy for the opportunity to sign today, on the eve of the National Day of Romania, representing the Romanian nuclear industry, the partnership agreement between the Romanian Atomic Forum and the Canadian Nuclear Association, which strengthens our traditional ties with the Canadian nuclear industry. Romania is strongly committed to continuing and expanding its nuclear program, advocating for nuclear energy as part of the European Green Deal policy, alongside with other low-carbon energy technologies. The signing of today’s agreement brings the Romanian nuclear industry, strongly anchored in the European space, in a transatlantic framework, in the fight for a clean Planet.” – Teodor Chirica, President Emeritus of ROMATOM.

In the MOU, the two organizations also agree to: 

• Increase the cooperation between Romania and Canada in the area of trade and investments in civil nuclear energy considering the already existing strong relationship between the Romanian and the Canadian nuclear energy industries.
• Explore civil nuclear policy areas of mutual interest, including the role of nuclear in mitigating climate change and the integration of nuclear energy with renewables.
• Increase efforts to jointly promote clean energy and advocate for a global taxonomy which includes nuclear.
• Encourage cooperation in other related areas connected with nuclear energy, such as medical isotopes and clean hydrogen production.
• Cooperate in the field of human resources training and upskilling in both countries.

You can read the MOU here.

About the CNA

Since 1960, the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) has been the national voice of the Canadian nuclear industry. Working alongside our members and all communities of interest, the CNA promotes the industry nationally and internationally, works with governments on policies affecting the sector and works to increase awareness and understanding of the value nuclear technology brings to the environment, economy and daily lives of Canadians.

About the ROMATOM

The Romanian Atomic Forum (ROMATOM) Association was set up in 2001, and currently incorporates 44 members, active in the civil nuclear field, from research, engineering, equipment fabrication, construction-erection to operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities, approaching front end and back-end of the nuclear cycle. ROMATOM promotes the safe use of nuclear power, is active in public consultations at the national and European level on topics of interest of our members, representing the interests of the industry through partnerships with other national and international associations and fora, as FORATOM, the association of the European Nuclear Industry.

Media Contact – ROMATOM

Catalin Minea
Director General
Romatom.secretary@gmail.com
secretariat.general@romatom.org.ro

Media Contact – CNA

Chelsea Ferguson
Communications Officer
communications@cna.ca