Romania, a pioneer in the implementation of American SMR technology in Europe

By rbj
Nuclearelectrica welcomes US President Joe Biden’s announcement of a $ 14 million grant for a new phase of NuScale’s small modular reactor development program in Romania – Preliminary Stage of Engineering and Design Studies for the Project SMR in our country.
“NuScale’s small modular reactor technology, the first and only SMR technology to receive approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), can support Romania’s decarbonization goals, while contributing to our country’s energy independence and prosperity. partnership with the United States, choosing a technology already approved and validated by an experienced regulator, Romania also ensures that its projects in the field of nuclear energy comply with the highest standards of nuclear safety. operating at the highest safety standards of nuclear power plants, is proud to contribute its expertise to the development of the first modular reactors in Europe and to set an example for other countries interested in developing civilian nuclear programs, “said Cosmin Ghita, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.
In developing this study, Nuclearelectrica and NuScale will collaborate with USTDA to initiate a package of studies and engineering and design activities, as well as technical analyzes of the potential site in Doiceşti, which will provide Romania with essential data for the development of the first plant with small modular reactors. from our country. This information is essential for cost estimation, rigorous planning of activities and project definition in relation to applicable national and international licensing and regulatory requirements. Also, in this stage, the potential service providers for the production of components and their assembly in Romania will be identified.
Romania, through Nuclearelectrica, is thus taking the first steps towards the implementation in this decade of the first NuScale power plant in Europe with 6 modules and an installed capacity of 462 MWe. It is estimated that the 6-module NuScale power plant will generate 193 permanent jobs, 1,500 jobs in construction, 2,300 jobs in production and will help Romania avoid the production of 4 million tons of CO2 emissions per year, is mentioned in the press release.
“As in the case of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, the first plant with small modular reactors will generate in the community where clean energy and sustainable economic growth will be located for the local community, through thousands of places created, investments in infrastructure, development of the supply chain local taxes, taxes to the local budget and the development of a new generation through investments in quality education “, said Cosmin Ghiţă.
In March 2019, Nuclearelectrica and NuScale signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to evaluate the development, licensing and construction of a NuScale SMR in Romania, and on October 9, 2020 Romania signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the USA in the field nuclear energy projects, which was also ratified by the Romanian Parliament, by Law no. 199/2021, having a wide support and being adopted by a majority of votes.
Also, in October 2020, US Exim Bank expressed, through a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), with the Ministry of Energy, the interest to finance large investment projects in Romania, including nuclear, totaling 7 billion of dollars.
On November 4, 2021, at COP26, NuScale and Nuclearelectrica signed a collaboration agreement to advance the implementation of the first small modular reactor in Europe and in early 2021 Nuclearelectrica received US $ 1.2 million in USTDA funding to identify and evaluate potential locations for small modular reactors.
In May 2022, following the completion of the study, several potential suitable locations were identified. The location of the former thermal power plant from Doiceşti, Dâmboviţa County, obtained all the qualifications in terms of security and fully complies with the location criteria required by international and national standards.
On May 24, 2022, Nuclearelectrica, NuScale and E-Infra (site owner) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to analyze the development of the first small modular reactor (SMR) in Romania on the site of the former Doiceşti thermal power plant, Dâmboviţa County.
During the Preliminary Stage of Engineering and Design Studies for the SMR project in Romania, engineering and design studies and activities, technical analysis of the site, as well as licensing and authorization activities will be carried out on the site of the former Doiceşti thermal power plant, respecting all national regulations. and international.
The National Company “Nuclearelectrica” ​​S.A. is the Romanian national company that produces electricity, heat and nuclear fuel, which operates under the authority of the Romanian Ministry of Energy, the state holding 82.49% of shares and other shareholders 17.50%, after the company’s listing on the Bucharest Stock Exchange in 2013.
SN Nuclearelectrica SA operates two CANDU nuclear units from Cernavoda NPP, which are two of the most efficient units among the more than 400 nuclear power plants in the world, a nuclear fuel plant and is in the process of achieving an integrated fuel cycle by purchasing a uranium concentrate processing line to support the company’s long-term investment projects.
Nuclearelectrica has a major role at national level, contributing over 18% of nuclear energy to total energy production and 33% to carbon-free energy production in Romania.
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