RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Will Romania Expand its Nuclear Programme?

An annual Global Wind Energy Council report on this industry places Romania in 10th place among EU members.

Will Romania Expand its Nuclear Programme?
Will Romania Expand its Nuclear Programme?

, 16.08.2013, 14:45

The annual report of the Global Wind Energy Council regarding the evolution of this industry places Romania in 10th place among EU member states. Most wind farms are clustered in Dobrogea, southern Romania, where the average wind speed is 7.2 meters/second at an altitude of 100 meters. The region is flat and sparsely populated, which makes it the ideal location for the development of wind parks, the document further reads. According to the same report, this industry has seen a lot of development over the last three years in Romania. Nevertheless, wind energy accounts for a mere 5% of the overall energy output at national level. Romania continues to rely on fossil fuels, which account for 50% of its output, followed by hydropower at 25% and nuclear power, representing 20%.



While not neglecting the development of alternative energy sources, the authorities in Bucharest mainly channel their efforts towards augmenting the country’s nuclear energy sector. There are 440 reactors all over the world, 60 are currently in the construction phase, while another 80 reactors are to be built in the future. Attending a specialist conference held in Bucharest by the Agency for Nuclear Energy and Radioactive Waste, Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian explained why he believes Romania needs to expand its nuclear programme, even though energy consumption is dropping at national level. Varujan Vosganian:



The development of the Romanian economy in the coming period will require an increase in energy consumption, because the energy sector must be closely linked with the strategy for reindustrialising the country, with the strategy for increasing its competitiveness. In this context, I believe it is only fair to speak of increasing the nuclear energy capacity of our country”.



In order to produce more nuclear energy, Romania is seeking investors in reactors III and IV at its Cernavoda nuclear power plant. Dating back to the early 1980s, the initial blueprint of this power plant, the only one in the region employing the Canadian technology CANDU, provided for the construction of five reactors. At present, only reactors I and II are in operation, the former since 1996 and the latter since 1997. On the other hand, Bucharest hasn’t yet given up on plans to build a new nuclear power plant in central Romania. Experts say the constant development of Romania’s nuclear energy programme is vital for Romania. One reason is that the current thermal power plants, which have a low-cost energy output, might not be able to operate without undergoing major technological improvement. Varujan Vosganian spoke about the prospects of Romania extending its nuclear energy programme:



We are an EU Member State, but must also see ourselves as part of the global landscape, from the point of view of investments, from the point of view of international trade and from the point of view of energy strategy. In this context I have to say the nuclear programmes used for peaceful purposes are in full expansion. Why shouldn’t we develop one of our own? Nuclear energy ensures energy autonomy. It is a clean and relatively cheap energy. We have the necessary human resources and the advanced technology required. In the medium term, all of this might offset the depletion of other resources. At the moment we don’t have a clear-cut plan with respect to prospects of developing a nuclear programme”.



The problem of nuclear energy has been under constant debate, both in Europe and at global level, even more so after the 2011 incident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan in the aftermath of an earthquake and tsunami. Countries such as Germany and Italy have expressed their wish to close down their nuclear power plants, while other European states continue to pump large amounts of money into this sector. Teodor Chirica, a representative of the Romanian Nuclear Forum told us more on this topic:



Finland, France and Slovakia have nuclear projects in the implementation phase. The United Kingdom continues to foster innovation in the field of developing new instruments to finance nuclear projects in particular and non-carbon projects more generally. Adding to this list is Poland, a country who has great ambitions to develop its nuclear programme, for reasons of energy security first and foremost. We can notice certain financial obstacles in the process of developing nuclear energy which affect large-scale energy projects, including nuclear projects. Unfortunately, the global financial crisis has deepened these financial problems”.



Tudor Chirica believes Romania should join the other 13 EU Member States willing to continue their nuclear energy programmes and formulate a common vision which should then be presented to the Brussels authorities.

The Future Starts Today Friday, 15 November 2024

A Result That Everyone Cares About

The outcome of the US presidential election and how it will influence global developments is at the center of international attention. The return to...

A Result That Everyone Cares About
Energie (foto: EdWhiteImages / pixabay.com)
The Future Starts Today Friday, 08 November 2024

Energy Objectives

The European Union’s net greenhouse gas emissions are now 37% below 1990 levels, while the GDP grew by 68% over the same period, demonstrating...

Energy Objectives
Klaus Iohannis and Maia Sandu (photo: presidency.ro)
The Future Starts Today Friday, 01 November 2024

The Republic of Moldova Closer to the EU

The citizens of the Republic of Moldova voted, on October 20, in favor of amending the country’s Constitution to support its accession to the...

The Republic of Moldova Closer to the EU
Sursa foto: pixabay.com
The Future Starts Today Friday, 18 October 2024

October, the European month of cybersecurity

The European Cyber Security Month is an annual campaign that promotes awareness and best practices in online cyber security, providing information on...

October, the European month of cybersecurity
The Future Starts Today Friday, 11 October 2024

The Pace of Aging

“Youth is about optimism, well-being, and a goal to fight for” – this is the creed that underpinned the work of Ana Aslan, one of...

The Pace of Aging
The Future Starts Today Friday, 04 October 2024

Major plan for the re-industrialization of Romania

For the first time in the last 35 years, a major plan for the re-industrialization of the country was announced in Romania. With a value of 3 billion...

Major plan for the re-industrialization of Romania
The Future Starts Today Friday, 20 September 2024

Energy for the future

    Over the past few years, the European Union has managed to withstand critical risks to its security of energy supply, regain control...

Energy for the future
The Future Starts Today Friday, 13 September 2024

Cyberspace vulnerabilities

More than 8.5 million computers running Windows software were affected by the world’s largest Internet outage in July this year. The figure...

Cyberspace vulnerabilities

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company