MONTREAL, May 19, 2022
/CNW/ - Candu Energy Inc., a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group
(TSX: SNC), has been chosen by Nuclearelectrica S.A. (SNN),
operator of the Cernavoda Nuclear Generating Station in
Romania, to conduct optimization
work on the Unit 1 CANDU® reactor at the facility.
SNC-Lavalin will perform axial channel shifting for several fuel
channels in Unit 1 during a three-year period. This work is
essential to allowing the CANDU reactor, which supplies 10% of
Romania's electricity, to continue
providing a reliable, uninterrupted flow of power ahead of its
proposed longer-term life extension. Performing this work now will
bring both time and cost efficiency to the refurbishment
process.
"SNC-Lavalin's nuclear business has a strong global
presence across five continents, and our full life-cycle expertise
is continuously sought by our global clients," commented
Ian L. Edwards, President and Chief
Executive Officer, SNC-Lavalin. "This new mandate with SNN will
ensure that Romania continues to
benefit from nuclear energy that is clean, efficient, and
affordable- at a time when the need for both energy security and
decarbonized sources of electricity have never been more important
for Europe and the world."
"SN Nuclearelectrica SA has had a long, fruitful cooperation
with SNC-Lavalin and we are looking forward to optimizing Cernavoda
NPP Unit 1 in order to provide clean, reliable energy at the
highest level of nuclear safety, as we have done thus far. Based on
SNC-Lavalin's expertise and professional personnel, we are fully
confident that the contract will deliver the outcome we are looking
for in terms of strategy, engineering and workings. Cernavoda NPP
Unit 1 is a strategic electricity generator for Romania and we are keen on maintaining our
high nuclear safety standards and results," said Cosmin Ghita, Chief Executive Officer SN
Nuclearelectrica SA.
Axial channel shifting is a maintenance activity that adjusts
elongation of the reactor's fuel channel tubes. SNC-Lavalin has
previously conducted related reconfiguration work for numerous
nuclear utilities. This maintenance activity performed in advance
of the refurbishment allows for a more cost-efficient and
time-efficient refurbishment process. The effective shutdown of
Cernavoda NPP Unit 1 for refurbishment purposes is scheduled, based
on Nuclearelectrica development strategy, throughout 2027-2029.
The mandate will see SNC-Lavalin personnel deploy onsite to
Cernavoda to carry out the work, which will be conducted over two
outages. SNC-Lavalin will be responsible for the design,
manufacturing, testing, and transportation of the full suite of
axial shifting tools and accessories that are required. The
Company's teams will also conduct reactor engineering analysis,
develop a strategy to execute the shifting work, and undertake an
examination regarding any impact on the reactor design. The mandate
builds upon SNC-Lavalin's work for SNN during the last 10 years,
which included providing feeder inspection & replacement
services, as well as fuel channel inspection services and safety
upgrades for the Cernavoda CANDU reactors.
"As the steward and original equipment manufacturer of
CANDU technology, we've had a long-standing and successful
relationship with SNN in Romania
since its CANDU units came online in 1996 and 2007, and we're best
positioned to carry out this vital work for their reactor core,"
said Joe St. Julian, President,
Nuclear, SNC-Lavalin. "Cernavoda's two CANDU reactors provide 20%
of Romania's electricity, and have
allowed Romania to reduce its
greenhouse gas emissions by over 10 million tonnes a year.
Romania's success is another
example of why we remain advocates for the role of nuclear in the
net zero energy mix."
A modern and world-class facility, the Cernavoda Nuclear
Generating Station contains 2 CANDU reactors. Since it went into
operation in 1996, the Unit 1 reactor alone has prevented the
release of 4 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide that would
have been produced had a fossil fuel plant been built instead. The
CANDU technology at the plant has also enhanced Romania's energy self-sufficiency. Both the
nuclear fuel and heavy water required are produced by Romania.
Equipping Romania's CANDU
reactors to continue serving future generations with dependable,
decarbonized power is another example of SNC-Lavalin's commitment
to advance projects that help clients meet their net zero goals, as
outlined in the Company's Engineering Net Zero blueprint.
About SNC-Lavalin
Founded in 1911,
SNC-Lavalin is a fully integrated professional services and project
management company with offices around the world dedicated to
engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We
create sustainable solutions that connect people, technology and
data to design, deliver and operate the most complex projects. We
deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver
unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset
including consulting, advisory & environmental services,
intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering,
procurement, project & construction management, operations
& maintenance, decommissioning and capital – and delivered to
clients in key strategic sectors such as Engineering Services,
Nuclear, Operations & Maintenance and Capital. News and
information are available at snclavalin.com or follow
us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About SNC-Lavalin's Nuclear
Business
SNC-Lavalin has over 60 years' of global
nuclear expertise, delivering nuclear technology products and
full-service solutions to nuclear utilities around the world. With
an innovative technology portfolio, including access to over 500
patented solutions, SNC-Lavalin solves technically complex
challenges across the whole nuclear lifecycle from design and new
build through asset management and from life extension and late
life management through decommissioning and waste management.
SNC-Lavalin operates and manages government nuclear research sites,
transforming ageing infrastructure and safely managing legacy
nuclear waste. SNC-Lavalin is the steward of CANDU® nuclear
technology, operating on four continents, and provides advisory and
engineering services to other nuclear developers. SNC-Lavalin is
also involved in developing medical radioisotopes for cancer
research through its partnership with TerraPower.
SOURCE SNC-Lavalin