RSS
The government wants to offer state aid of 62 million lei to save the National Company of Uranium
Romania notified the European Commission for the approval of an individual state aid of 62 million lei to save the National Company of Uranium (CNU) as this company is in the impossibility to continue its activity, according to a draft of emergency ordnance initiated by the ministry of energy.
‘The ministry of energy is authorised to offer aid under the format of loan in two parts within the limit of 62,000 lei for a period of 6 months to the company National Company of Uranium – SA which faces economic-financial difficulties at the request of the latter. The aid has the purpose to cover the necessary of liquidities to cover current minimum expenses for the support of activities for a period of 6 months under conditions of nuclear safety and environment safety and which allow the analysis of the circumstances which led to the difficulties and the drawing up of a restructuring plan adequate for their remedy’ the draft ordnance says.
The loan will be offered after the decision of authorisation of the European Commission in two parts: 47.2 million lei and 14.8 million lei. The money comes from the budgetary reserve fund at the government disposal.
The European Commission was notified on 8 September.
CNU has a main activity the exploitation of uranium ores, manufacturing of the ore, production of the technical uranium concentrate, U308 and its refining. CNU has the technical and professional competence to execute mining activities regarding the resources/reserves of domestic uranium.
The main cause for the present situation is the fact that, last year, Nuclearelectrica annulled the contract with CNU for the acquisition of uranium to favour a Canadian company.
At the same time, Romania risks supporting serious sanctions on the part of the European authorities if CNU does not comply with the nuclear and environment duties .
‘As a result of the lack of financial resources CNU is unable to execute its specific activity through which it ensures the compliance with the nuclear and environmental security and safety obligations assumed by Romania in the Treaty EURATOM and TFUE, with the risk that, in case of non-compliance Romania could be forced to support serious sanctions on the part of the European authorities and the institutions in the nuclear domain which could lead to the loss of credibility thus affecting the capacity of the Romanian state to host/develop nuclear objectives on its territory’ the initiators of the document say.