The concrete pouring took place at the Intermediate Radioactive Waste Storage Facility (DIDR-U5), which is designed for handling, processing, and interim storage of waste from the Unit 1 refurbishment and long-term operation of Units 1 and 2.
"In September 2025, Nuclearelectrica obtained from the Commission for the Control of Nuclear Activities the construction permit for the Interim Radioactive Waste Repository," said Cosmin Ghita, General Manager of Nuclearelectrica, in a BVB statement. "After 30 years of operation at high nuclear safety standards, Unit 1, through the refurbishment program, will continue to operate for another 30 years starting in 2030."
The Cernavoda Unit 1 refurbishment project is currently in its second phase of development, with completion expected toward the end of 2027. Unit 1 will be reconnected to the National Power Grid in 2030 for a new 30-year operating cycle.
Unit 1 was commissioned in 1996 and has prevented 145 million tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere while delivering over 149 million MWh with a capacity factor exceeding 90%.
