Nuclearelectrica & NuScale working meeting for the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Romania

On July 6, 2022, Nuclearelectrica & NuScale organized a working meeting with the authorities in Dambovita County and Doicesti, following the announcement made by President Biden, the allocation of a grant of 14 million USD for the next stage of the development of NuScale small modular reactors in Romania – the Preliminary Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) study for the SMR project in Romania.

The working meeting objective was to present the local authorities with the NuScale technology features, its safety, and deployment stages, the status of the project in US, currently in developments in Idaho, and The Preliminary Front-End Engineering and Design study for the SMR project in Romania.

For the development of this study, Nuclearelectrica and NuScale will cooperate with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to initiate a series of engineering and design activities and studies, as well further technical analyses of the potential site of Doicesti, which will provide Romania with essential data for the development of the first small modular reactor power plant in Romania. This information is essential to estimate costs, rigorously plan activities and define the project based on the national and international authorization and applicable regulatory requirements. Also, potential suppliers of services and manufacturing and assembling in Romania will be identified during this FEED stage. 

“Following an in-depth study which analysed multiple potential sites in Romania, the Doicesti site was selected, achieving all the qualifications in terms of safety, appropriate for NuScale’s design and the most advanced criteria and safety principles. Following the 14 mil dollars grant received from US Government, we will start the technical site analysis. Through the partnership with the United States, by choosing a technology that is already approved and validated by a regulatory agency with long term expertise, Romania also makes sure that its projects in the field of nuclear energy respects the highest standards of nuclear safety. Moreover, with over 25 years of experience in operating at the highest standards two nuclear units, Nuclearelectrica is proud to contribute with its expertise to the development of the first small modular reactors in Europe and to be an example to other countries interested in developing their civil nuclear programs.”  ̶   Cosmin Ghiţă, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.

“NuScale’s SMR technology is second to-none in the areas of safety features, capabilities, and performance. Our technology has already undergone an intensive safety review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, resulting in design approval in August 2020, proving our strong safety case. And now, we are thrilled to showcase our solution to climate change in both the United States and Romania to support clean energy goals while protecting global prosperity, people, and our planet.” – John Hopkins, President, and Chief Executive Officer, NuScale Power.

Through Nuclearelectrica, Romania takes the first steps in implementing, during this decade, the first 6-module 462 Mwe installed capacity NuScale power plant in Europe. It is estimated that this size NuScale power plant will generate approximately 200 permanent jobs, 1.500 jobs in construction, 2.300 jobs in production and will help Romania to avoid the generation of 4 million tons of CO2 per year.

“Like in the case of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, the first small modular reactors power plant will generate clean energy in the area where it will be built and strong economic growth for the local community by creating thousands of jobs, investments in infrastructure, growth of the chain of local suppliers, tax funds to the local budget and it will contribute to forming a new generation of specialists through investment in high-quality education.”  ̶   Cosmin Ghiţă, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.

“The small modular reactors to be built in Romania will directly benefit from years of development in the United States (U.S.). By the end of this decade, the first NuScale small modular reactor (SMR) power plant will begin operation in Idaho, in the U.S. This project in the U.S. has completed several essential stages. The NuScale SMR in Idaho benefits from significant funding from the U.S. Government, consistent with the U.S. commitment to accelerate measures to provide energy security and a sustainable transition to clean energy sources.” – Dr. John Wagner, Laboratory Director, Idaho National Laboratory.