Currently, the contributions are set at €0.6/MWh for building financial resources needed for the decommissioning of production units, and €1.4/MWh for establishing financial resources required for the siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, modernization, closure, and post-closure monitoring of permanent repositories for radioactive waste generated by the operation of nuclear power units. This also includes research and development activities to support permanent storage operations, as well as current and capital expenses of the Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency (ANDR), which collects the tax.
In the first nine months of last year, Nuclearelectrica paid over 76 million lei in contributions, with a total of 101.8 million lei paid throughout the entire year of 2023.
A legislative project proposes doubling the contributions, to 1.2 euros/MWh for the money needed for decommissioning and 2.8 euros/MWh for waste and spent nuclear fuel storage, including ANDR expenses. The proposal comes after the update of the decommissioning plan for reactors 1 and 2 at Cernavoda, which included cost estimates for a 60-year operational life, following the refurbishment, as well as the progress of the construction project for reactors 3 and 4, Profit.ro reports.
On top of all, Romania has been in an infringement procedure with the European Commission for almost 7 years, being suspected of non-compliance with Directive 2011/70/Euratom on the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.