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Energy Minister Dumitru Chisăliță calls for European support for the modernization of Unit 1 at Cernavodă

Riana Gegiu

29 October 2026, 12:04

Economy

Foto: Facebook/ Dumitru Chisăliță

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Energy Minister Dumitru Chisăliță called on Thursday, October 29, 2026, in Luxembourg, for European support for the project to modernize Unit 1 at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. The request was made at the ministerial meeting of the Nuclear Alliance, held on the sidelines of the Energy Council.

Discussions focused on the future of the European energy framework after 2030 and the role of nuclear energy in security of supply, economic competitiveness, and emissions reductions. Chisăliță argued for the need for a technology-neutral European framework that recognizes nuclear energy as a clean source and ensures predictable conditions for investment and access to financing.

The minister outlined the importance of modernizing Unit 1 to maintain low-emission energy production over the long term and ensure Romania’s energy security. He invited the participating states to support the project as part of the 30-day public consultation.

The initiative comes after the European Commission, through its Directorate-General for Competition, published its decision to open an investigation into state aid for the project. The Nuclear Alliance brings together European states that support nuclear energy’s contribution to security, decarbonization, and competitiveness.

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Context: Chisăliță has taken over the Energy portfolio, and financial and technical decisions for the modernization of Unit 1 at Cernavodă are underway

Previously, Chisăliță stated that his immediate priority was preparing Romania for winter, against the backdrop of drought and changes in the structure of energy production. He also mentioned that the transition to a free market would require at least 12 months and called for a comprehensive technical and economic analysis of the modular reactors at Doicești.

Regarding Cernavodă, Nuclearelectrica also announced concrete steps for the modernization of Unit 1: the company intends to take out an €800 million loan from the European Investment Bank, already approved by the EIB board, and the financing was structured in two tranches. In parallel, ABB was selected as the contractor to modernize Unit 1’s control and safety systems, with the aim of extending its operating life by another 30 years. At the same time, both reactors at Cernavodă were shut down because of the low level of the Danube, while the Ministry of Energy warned that the situation could contribute to higher electricity prices in the winter and spring of 2027.