Greenpeace and residents concerned about US nuclear power plans in Romanian village

Record ID: 1696187

  • Title: Greenpeace and residents concerned about US nuclear power plans in Romanian village
  • Date: 4th November 2022
  • Summary: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 26, 2022) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF ROMANIAN ENERGY AGENCY (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) ROMANIAN ENERGY MINISTER, VIRGIL POPESCU, SAYING: "Together with our American partners, we are implementing the NuScale small modular reactor in Doicesti. Together, we will also develop a production hub for modular reactor components, we want our company Nucle
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2022 12:55
  • Keywords: Doicesti NuScale Nuclearelectrica U.S. government clean energy development aid environmental concerns nuclear energy nuclear power plant
  • Location: DOICESTI, PUCIOASA AND BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
  • City: DOICESTI, PUCIOASA AND BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
  • Country: Romania
  • Topics: Climate Change,Environment,Europe,General News,Government / Politics,Climate Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA003698404112022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:A proposal to build a nuclear power plant with the help of the United States in the Romanian village of Doicesti is causing alarm among environmental activists and local residents there.
    On Thursday (November 3), Greenpeace activists demonstrated in the town against the project, which would see the first power plant developed by U.S. company NuScale come to Romania.
    According to NuScale, its proposed small modular reactor (SMR) plant would generate 462 megawatts and represent the first deployment of the technology in Europe.
    Greenpeace says locals have not been properly consulted and the technology the plant would use has not been proven to be safe.
    Local resident Nicu Balanescu, who worked at a now-disused coal-fired power plant where the proposed nuclear plant could be built, said he was concerned local residents might have to leave their homes.
    Another resident, Maria, said she was concerned about radiation, while Marieta Baciu said the only reassurance she had heard was from a person who "came one Sunday to the church and said the plant will not be as dangerous as we fear".
    In the nearby town of Pucioasa, mayor Constantin Emilian said there was no clear information about any potential risks from the plant, and it could have an impact on the area's appeal to tourists.
    NuScale and Romania's nuclear power operator Nuclearelectrica say the project if it goes ahead, would help Romania reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and provide jobs to the local economy.
    In September, Romanian Energy Minister Virgil Popescu said he also hoped the project would help Romania become a regional centre for the production of the SMR technology.
    NuScale is hoping to build its first plant, the Carbon Free Power Project with multiple SMRs, at the Idaho National Laboratory. The first would come online in 2029 and the plant would be fully operational in 2030.
    As well as Romania, NuScale also wants to build the plants in Poland and Kazakhstan.
    Feasibility studies and initial planning for the development of the plant in Doicesti have been backed with more than $15 million in grants from the U.S. government.
    (Production: Anca Cernat, Lewis Macdonald)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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