At a press conference in the southeastern city of Constanta, Vosganian urged electricity producers to prepare additional capabilities for thermal-power plant fueled by crude oil and gas. According to the minister, the measure is necessary in order to prevent a repeat of the situation of 2003, when the Cernavoda nuclear-power plant was closed because of the flow of the Danube River had fallen to levels that failed to ensure the cooling down Unit 1. Vosganian said Unit 2 of the nuclear-power plant is 15% operational and it will be connected to the national power grid late this July.

The Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant is the first and also the only nuclear-power plant in Romania. The power plant was designed by Canada in the 1980s and the initial plan was to build five units, of which Unit One was finished in 1996 and produces between 10% and 12% of the country’s electricity. Unit Two is under construction, while Units 3 and 4 are also in their planning stages. When completed, the four units combined are expected to provide up to 40% of Romania’s total electricity needs. (english.people.com.cn)