The US Embassy in Romania, with the support of the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest (UNSTPB) and SN Nuclearelectrica SA, organized the visit of the US delegation to the E2 Energy Exploration Center within the university.
“Politehnica Bucharest was honored to have in the room the Special Representative of the US President on climate issues, Mr. John Kerry, Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Mr. Geoffrey Pyatt, and President of the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM), Ms. Reta Jo Lewis. The visit took place in the context of the strategic partnership between the USA and Romania in the field of nuclear energy and cooperation for the implementation of SMR technology,” the UPB press release states.
The E2 Center at UNSTPB contributes to our country’s energy security and clean energy decarbonization goals.
Our country will set an example for achieving climate change goals using nuclear energy. Thus, Romania through the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest (UNSTPB) will share its knowledge in the nuclear sector with all countries in the region.
“We are proud to have one of our projects – the E2 Energy Exploration Center in the spotlight, hosting this important visit. We are proud to be able to contribute to the development of future generations of engineers and especially specialists in nuclear energy, at a time when the industry needs more and more experts in this future field. In Romania alone, it is estimated that by the end of 2030, the Romanian nuclear industry will need over 20,000 employees. For more than 50 years, the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest has been bringing highly trained nuclear engineers to the labor market, and we are determined to continue and adapt to the most advanced nuclear technologies, such as SMR technologies. Since Romania is the first country in Europe, the second after the USA, to install the American NuScale SMR technology, the E2 Center will support our country to become a leader in the training of future SMR operators. Thus, Politehnica Bucharest will be a SMR education and training hub for the region, with the support of Nuclearelectrica, NuScale and the US Government,” said Mihnea Costoiu, rector of Politehnica Bucharest National University of Science and Technology.
The E2 Center was a European first, being inaugurated this year in May, within the Faculty of Energy, as part of the U.S. program Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST). It houses the control room simulator for the Voygrtm NuScale small modular reactor plant.
During the event, Special Representative John Kerry announced the winning project proposals. They were selected following a competition to participate in the Phoenix Project and receive support for feasibility studies on the transition from using coal to the construction of small modular reactors.