USTDA awards $14 million grant to project company to develop small modular reactors in Romania

By RBJ
The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on Thursday awarded a $14 million grant to RoPower Nuclear SA (RoPower), the project company for the development of small modular reactors, recently established by Nuclearelectrica Romania and the American company Nova Power & Gas.
According to a press release from Nuclearelectrica, the grant will be used for the preliminary engineering and design study (FEED) to advance the development project of the first SMR nuclear power plant in Romania.
The preliminary study will include key project development elements, such as a site configuration plan, a budget estimate and an environmental impact analysis execution plan. The FEED study continues the recently completed $1.2 million USTDA study that identified suitable sites, technology options and a licensing roadmap for the SMR project. The FEED study will incorporate the recommendations of the SEED (Site and External Events Design) mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“We are acting on the commitment that President Biden made during the launch of the Partnership for Infrastructure and Global Investments in June, when he announced the support of the US Government for this important project to develop a plant with small modular reactors in Romania. Several American government agencies and the US private sector work in partnership with Romania to support the achievement of climate and energy security goals. Together we are promoting ambitious and important projects that shape a cleaner and more secure energy future for Eastern Europe and the world,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA Director.
Cosmin Ghiţă, general manager of Nuclearelectrica, stated that through this new grant offered by USTDA, Romania is recognized as a reliable and experienced partner for the implementation of the first small modular reactor (SMR) in Europe.
“We have 26 years of experience in nuclear operation at the highest safety standards and over 50 years of experience in the development of the nuclear industry; we have an experienced regulatory body and a secure supply chain, as well as a professional education system in the field of technology and engineering. We have all the assets and are ready to, together with the United States, as a result of our countries’ more than 50 years of nuclear partnership, implement the most advanced civilian nuclear technology and promote the benefits of nuclear power as an affordable, clean energy source , sustainable and resilience”, said Cosmin Ghiţă.
The first plant based on NuScale’s SMR project is expected to be operational in the United States by the end of the decade. The FEED study funded by USTDA will facilitate the implementation of this project in Romania, focusing on its adaptation to the specific requirements of the preferred location in Doicesti, the location of a former coal-fired power plant.
“NuScale is proud to benefit from the continuous support of USTDA to bring to Romania the benefits of a clean and sustainable NuScale SMR plant. The fact that we have the support of the US Government in FEED phase 1 speaks of the role that NuScale technology will play in strengthening Romania’s energy security and in providing energy with zero carbon emissions for future generations. Additionally, it speaks to Romania’s track record of safe nuclear operation and ability to successfully deploy our SMR technology,” said John Hopkins, NuScale Power’s President and CEO.
The SMR plant, which would be the first of its kind in Europe, will contribute to achieving Romania’s objectives regarding the transition to clean energy and energy security. RoPower, Nuclearelectrica’s SMR project company, selected Oregon-based NuScale Power OVS, LLC to perform the FEED study. The US State Department contributed funds for the award of the USTDA grant, Nuclearelectrica states.