Cosmin Ghiță resigns as CEO of Romania's Nuclearelectrica after nine years

Leadership departure at state nuclear operator

Cosmin Ghiță notified the Bucharest Stock Exchange on 25 August 2026 that he requested the termination of his mandate contract as director general of SN Nuclearelectrica SA. Ghiță had led the state-controlled producer since 2 September 2017, when he was appointed interim director general at age 28. He received a four-year mandate beginning 11 February 2019 and was serving a renewed term running from 12 February 2023 to 12 February 2027. The Ministry of Energy, which holds an 82.50% majority stake in the utility, stated that Ghiță stepped down to pursue a new professional opportunity. Government spokesperson Ioana Dogioiu outlined the formal transition protocol.

Resignation is a unilateral act of will. After a 90-day notice period according to the contract, which can be shortened by mutual agreement, a selection process for a new titular head will follow.

Operational crisis at Cernavodă plant

The leadership exit coincides with generation halts at the Cernavodă nuclear power plant, which supplies approximately 20% of Romania's electricity. Both 700 MW CANDU 6 units are currently shut down due to low water flows in the Danube River, which supplies necessary cooling water. Unit 1 was taken offline in a controlled shutdown on 28 July 2026, reducing domestic power generation by 10% during high summer electricity demand. Technicians attempted emergency measures to maintain cooling for Unit 2, including dislodging a rock and sinking four barges to redirect river flow toward the intake channels. Despite these measures, Unit 2 was shut down on 13 August 2026 to ensure plant safety.

Scrutiny over the Doicești modular reactor project

Ghiță's departure also follows administrative scrutiny of the small modular reactor project planned for Doicești. The project aims to build a 462 MW NuScale plant through RoPower Nuclear, a joint venture owned equally by Nuclearelectrica and private firm Nova Power and Gas. On 27 July 2026, the Prime Minister's Control Body issued a report finding that Nuclearelectrica was exposed to financial risks through spending on feasibility studies and land purchases from its private partner. Total state expenditures on the project reached over 1 billion lei (around €200 million), while total estimated development costs stand at nearly €7 billion. Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan criticized the project's financial commitments in May.

One of the projects discussed in these years was the SMR at Doicești. Do you know how much Nuclearelectrica spent? 240 million dollars. We will be left with a piece of land and some papers.

Following a request from the Ministry of Energy, Nuclearelectrica scheduled an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders for 10 and 11 September 2026 to review the control body's findings.

Corporate performance and transition process

Despite operational disruptions, Nuclearelectrica reported a net profit of 1.184 billion lei for the first half of 2026, an increase of 36.6% compared to the first half of 2025. Total electricity delivered to the national grid from Cernavodă reached 4.154 million MWh in the first six months of 2026, dropping 11.74% from 4.706 million MWh delivered during the same period in 2025. As of 31 December 2025, legal entities hold 13.55% of the company's equity and individual retail investors own 3.95%. The Ministry of Energy confirmed that daily operations at Cernavodă and the Pitești nuclear fuel fabrication plant continue normally while the board prepares the management selection process.