Bogdan Deaconu-an engineer who developed his career within the power plant and has served as an evaluator of international nuclear fleet performance for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)-will assume technical leadership at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) effective December 1, 2026. His objective will be to enhance the plant’s technical performance, Nuclearelectrica announced in a press release.
“This appointment addresses a strategic priority: restoring a level of technical excellence-encompassing equipment performance, the effectiveness of the engineering organization, and the strengthening of a culture focused on prevention and continuous improvement-that has consistently placed the Cernavodă nuclear units among the world leaders in capacity factor rankings,” the statement notes.
With a 13-year career in the nuclear industry-largely built within the plant itself-and two years of experience at the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the organization that sets standards of excellence for nuclear operations, Bogdan Deaconu brings the precise blend of expertise that Cernavodă requires: an in-depth knowledge of the plant’s equipment combined with direct insight into how the world’s best-performing nuclear plants maintain their operational standards, the source highlights. “Over the years, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant has demonstrated that it deserves its place among the best-performing nuclear power plants in the world. This is the benchmark we aim for. Internationally, I have worked with plants that have successfully recalibrated their performance, and I know what works: resilient equipment, the timely identification of issues, efficient processes, having the right people in the right roles, and a culture where every individual takes personal responsibility for the final outcome. The team at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant possesses the competence and commitment required to reaffirm its technical performance. My role is to create the framework that allows the team’s strengths to translate into visible, sustainable results,” stated Bogdan Deaconu, as quoted in the press release.
Between 2019 and 2024, Bogdan Deaconu served as the lead coordinator for the life-extension program for Unit 1-overseeing everything from its initial development to its execution. Through the successful completion of this program-one of the plant’s most significant initiatives-Unit 1 at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant continues to operate, pending its upcoming refurbishment.
Throughout his career, he has built and led cross-functional, multinational teams. Several of his completed projects-such as the inspection and remediation of the reactor’s internal components-involved hundreds of contractors and in-house staff, requiring tight execution schedules and responsible risk management. This experience provides a solid foundation for the projects that lie ahead. Bogdan Deaconu began his career in 2013 as a Process Engineer at RATEN-CITON, where he was responsible for the design and analysis of systems for the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). In 2016, he joined the power plant’s team, where he coordinated programs for critical reactor components-specifically fuel channels, feeder piping, and the calandria vessel. Later, serving as a Specialist Engineer, he oversaw inspection and condition assessment programs for critical components across both the nuclear and conventional (balance-of-plant) areas.
From 2021 to 2024, he led the Passive Components Department, with responsibilities including the development of aging management and condition management plans for critical components, as well as managing interdepartmental interfaces for supporting programs.
Between 2024 and 2026, Bogdan Deaconu worked at the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) as a Senior Equipment Reliability Evaluator and Continuum Contact. His responsibilities included the early identification of performance degradation signals at partner power plants-covering both equipment and engineering organizations-and providing support to technical executive teams during recovery efforts.
His work was not limited to a single technology; rather, it focused on improving the performance of the entire fleet of nuclear power plants in the United States, as well as international plants affiliated with INPO in Canada, Argentina, Mexico, and South Africa. Furthermore, he contributed to the development and implementation of a resilience initiative addressing natural threats for these international affiliate plants. As of 2026, Bogdan Deaconu holds the position of Expert at Nuclearelectrica, coordinating the development of projects related to aging management, lifetime extension, and operational support.
Unit 1 of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant was disconnected from the National Energy System on Monday evening due to a malfunction in the conventional (non-nuclear) part of the reactor. In light of this, measures have been announced regarding the plant’s technical management-which is responsible for ensuring the availability of equipment required for the operation of Cernavodă Unit 1-specifically the replacement of the technical director, effective December 1, 2026.