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Romania to host first E2 center in Europe, with NuScale small modular reactor (SMR) simulator
The first NuScale small modular reactor (SMR) simulator will be installed at Politehnica University of Bucharest to support the development of the workforce capacity of the next generation of experts, technicians and nuclear operators in Romania.
The announcement was made during the "Small Modular and Advanced Reactors Workshop Planning IV" workshop, organized in Bucharest by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), in partnership with the US Department of Commerce, Nuclearelectrica and NuScale.
"We are proud that Romania will host the first E2 center in Europe, an essential tool for the first operators of a small modular reactor of Nuclearelectrica and for the training of a new generation of nuclear engineers in Romania and in the region. Romania has several advantages that qualify it as one of the first countries to implement the first SMR in Europe: over 25 years of experience in operating the nuclear power plant to standards of excellence in terms of nuclear safety, productivity and labor performance. Romania also has a renowned school of nuclear engineers, a vast supply chain in the nuclear industry and a valued center for nuclear research and development. In addition, Romania and the United States have a strong collaboration in the nuclear industry, dating back to the early 1980s. By placing the E2 Center within the Politehnica University, our long and successful collaboration will continue with the same goal: to build a core of excellence for the Romanian nuclear industry," said Cosmin Ghita, General Manager of Nuclearelectrica.
The implementation of the E2 Center is made possible by funding from the US State Department, under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program.
We are pleased to offer Romania a SMR simulator in our FIRST program. The E2 Center will strengthen our strategic partnership with Romania and continue Romania's goals of becoming a leader in the safe implementation of SMRs and the development of the workforce in the region, said Bonnie Jenkins, the US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security.
The E2 Center uses state-of-the-art computer modeling within a simulator of the NuScale small modular reactor (SMR) power plant control room. Users will have the opportunity to take on the role of "operator in the control room" at a 12-unit SMR plant to learn the unique security features of NuScale technology. The installation of the E2 Center and the training of the center's instructors will be completed by the end of 2023.
Nuclearelectrica is the national company in Romania that produces electricity, heat and nuclear fuel, which operates under the authority of the Romanian Ministry of Energy, the state holding 82.49% of shares and other shareholders 17.50%, after the listing of the company on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB ), in 2013.
The company operates two CANDU nuclear power units at Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, one of the most powerful units in the world's more than 400 nuclear power plants, a nuclear fuel plant, and is in the process of completing an integrated fuel cycle by purchasing an uranium concentrate processing line to support the company's long-term investment projects.