* Nuclearelectrica: "There is no reason to hold a referendum on continuation of the project build the Units 3 and 4"
The updated feasibility study concerning the construction of Units 3 and 4 at the nuclear plant of Cernavodă now suggests a total investment of 6.5 billion Euros, a 50% increase over the initial estimated cost of about 4 billion Euros, which were announced in 2008.
According to the updated study conducted by Ernst&Young, SNC Lavalin, the general developer, will build the two units for 4.8 billion Euros, plus other additional expenses which will cause the total bill to reach 6.5 billion Euros. Sources from the energy market claim that the Ministry of the Economy was advised by the consultant to ask Lavalin for a discount on the tender which it won the call for bids with.
When asked about the reasons behind the increase in the price of the project and what happened to the tender by Lavalin, the representatives of Nuclearelectrica said: "The costs which we were talking about in 2008 were assessed based on the market conditions of the 2003-2007 period. The new assessment is based on the current market conditions.
The information concerning the price of the contract, as well as other information concerning the final offer of the Lavalin consortium is strictly commercial information which pertain to the negotiation with SNC Lavalin. This negotiation is not yet complete".
The officials of Nuclearelectrica said that, as general developer, SNC Lavalin will handle the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of the units based on a "turn-key" contract.
The equipment provided by SNC Lavalin for the Units 3 and 4 is specific for latest-generation CANDU reactors, (Enhanced CANDU6), according to the latest national and international regulations.
The management of Nuclearelectrica emphasized: "The project of units 3
