Nuclearelectrica: shutdown of reactor 2 of Cernavoda is controlled, PNL: shutdown of reactor is forced

Shutting down reactor 2 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant is a controlled shutdown, aiming at various testing activities and possible repairs that are part of the pro-active maintenance programme, reads a Nuclearelectrica's viewpoint. 

The position of the company comes following a press release of PNL deputy Virgil Popescu, in which he states that "the real reason for shutting down the power plant was caused by the breaking down of the nuclear fuel loading and unloading machine," and the shutdown of the reactor was a forced, not a proactive one. 

The company's representatives state that in the case of the shutdown scheduled for the evening of December 7, 2017, as announced on December 6, 2017, it is about a controlled shutdown, aimed at various testing activities and possible repairs as part of the program pro-active maintenance programme. 

"Therefore, as resulted from the above-mentioned test and control activities, prepared and announced before the actual shutdown, the hypothesis of a forced shutdown is excluded. The National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control was announced regarding the scheduled disconnection of Unit 2 of Cernavoda and of the programme of activities. Moreover, the period of the controlled shutdown is thought in such a way as it does not affect the National Energy System. In this sense, the company detaches itself from any initiative of association with any political activity and demands the observance of the status of economic entity, responsible for the management of the nuclear activities related to the nuclear safety of the two reactors," the document reads. 

Liberals have required that Prime Minister Mihai Tudose dismiss Energy Minister Toma Petcu and Nuclearelectrica General Manager Cosmin Ghita. 

"On December 7, Nuclearelectrica lied publicly, announcing a 'proactive' shutdown of Unit 2 at the Cernavoda plant as a result of planned and preventive maintenance work. The true reason for shutting down the plant was caused by the breakdown of the nuclear fuel loading and unloading machine, the shutdown being forced and not proactive. PNL is demanding that Prime Minister Mihai Tudose immediately dismiss Minister of Energy Toma Petcu and the interim director of Nuclearelectrica for the incompetence and irresponsibility with which they have chosen to manage an operational incident without major risks, choosing inclusively to lie to the public instead of telling the truth," PNL deputy Virgil Popescu said in a Thursday's press release for AGERPRES. 

The liberals are also demanding that the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN) to correctly inform the situation and to state publicly if they authorized the appointment of Cosmin Ghita to manage Nuclearelectrica, claiming that he has no managerial experience whatsoever.