Romania must pursue its nuclear programme in order to limit electricity imports, Nuclearelectrica chief Pompiliu Budulan said Tuesday, adding that the Cernavoda plant was "among the safest" worldwide.
"If we do not build (the two planned reactors) Romania will depend on imported energy", Budulan told reporters after being heard by a Senate commission on nuclear safety.
"We will have to make every effort to this end, especially since the European Commission has granted us permission to go ahead", he stressed.
Romania plans to build two new units at the south-eastern Cernavoda plant. Two reactors are currently operating, providing about 18 percent of the country's electricity needs.
While doubts about the safety of this plant appeared after the nuclear crisis in Japan, Budulan assured that the Candu-type Canadian technology used at Cernavoda was "the best" and has never "caused incidents or accidents."
"The Cernavoda plant works in conditions of maximum safety", said the chairwoman of the National commission for controlling nuclear activities, Vajda Borbala.
Bucharest also plans to build a second nuclear plant in order to increase its energy production.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
