The only big heavy water producer in the world that meets international requirements, ROMAG Prod, has already exceeded the production of 2,500 tons in the 21 years of activity. "Due to the efforts made by the Romanians, best quality heavy water was produced for the first load of Cernavodă Units 1 and 2 and for the needs of technological completions during their life. At present, heavy water necessary for units 3 and 4 is being produced. Units 1 and 2 equipped with Romanian heavy water are functioning at maximum yield, being connected to the National Power System, where it constantly delivers cheap electricity (about 20% of total). To cover the heavy water necessities that would ensure the initial load (approximately 550 tons) and the technological additions (400 tons) around 2500 tons were produced, for the Cernavodă units 1, 2, 3 and 4," ROMAG Prod representatives told the Curierul Naţional.
According to the deadlines established in the contracts for product delivery and to the AECL Canada technical specification, a CANDU 600 reactor needs 500-550 tons of heavy water for the initial load and 12 tons annually for technological additions, for the 40-year life.
Until 2008, a quantity of 1100 tons was delivered to the Cernavodă units 1 and 2.
As concerns the heavy water for the Cernavodă reactors 3 and 4, according to ROMAG representatives, "in compliance with GEO 80/2006, the amount of 470 tons of the initial load needs was produced by this date, the tranches of heavy water being taken over by the Cernavodă nuclear power plant monthly. Asked about the quantity of heavy water which constitutes the state reserve, ROMAG informed us that it was necessary to have a quantity for technological additions throughout the reactors' lifetime. The quantity, estimated by the designer at 12 tons / year / unit, being necessary to cover technological losses at units 1 a