Ion Iliescu, the president of Romania, has said he is personally committed to the completion of Cernavoda 2.
During a visit to the Cernavoda plant, Iliescu "reiterated the need to expediate the works" so that the unit will be commissioned by 2004, according to officials at the Romanian Nuclear Energy Association. Following the visit, Iliescu said: "Four precious years have been wasted and works resumption means an important achievement for Romanian nuclear power." Last year, a $690 million contract for the completion of the reactor was signed by Romania's state-owned utility Nuclearelectrica, Atomic Energy of Canada, and Ansaldo of Italy. Unit 1 produced 5.05TWh in 2001 — 10.4% of total domestic electricity production.
