Fiala wants to build and develop modular reactors in Czechia, holds talks with Rolls-Royce chief

Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) discussed options for developing and manufacturing small modular reactors in Czechia with Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive of Rolls-Royce Holdings. According to the prime minister, modular reactors could in future be not only built but also developed in the country, with cooperation with the British company potentially helping to make this possible. Fiala said this on the social network X. Under the government’s current plans, small modular reactors are expected to replace existing coal-fired power plants.

Fiala said he had spoken with Erginbilgic today mainly about building closer cooperation in the energy sector. „Rolls-Royce currently has one of the most advanced small modular reactor technologies. As part of Restart of Czechia, we want to make our country a centre for nuclear energy. Not only to build new power sources, but above all to develop and manufacture small modular reactors here. And Rolls-Royce could help us with this in the future,“ the prime minister said.

Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela (STAN) also took part in the talks. He said that medium-sized and small reactors could play an important role in the development of Czech energy. The minister said his priority would be to involve Czech companies in the development of the technology at an early stage. „Their development represents a major opportunity for Czechia’s highly regarded nuclear expertise,“ Síkela said on X.

Small modular reactors are expected to replace current coal-fired power plants in the coming years. The technology will therefore be included in the updated state energy policy and taken into account in Czechia’s spatial planning, Síkela said recently. He added that preparing for these technologies also represents an opportunity for domestic industry.

The partly state-owned company ČEZ is also planning to build small and medium-sized modular reactors. The first reactor is expected to be built in the first half of the 2030s in the wider area of the Temelín nuclear power plant. The company has so far identified sites at the power plants in Dětmarovice and Tušimice as two other potential locations. In addition to the first three sites for small modular reactors, ČEZ is also examining other locations where it could build the reactors. Preparations at these sites, however, are not as advanced. The company is analysing the sites of the Prunéřov, Ledvice, Mělník and Dukovany power plants, for example. With the exception of Dukovany, these are current coal-fired power plant sites.

In recent months, ČEZ has signed memoranda of cooperation on small modular reactors with NuScale, GE Hitachi, Rolls Royce, EdF, Westinghouse, KHNP and Holtec.

Small and medium-sized modular reactors are nuclear power sources with a capacity of up to 700 megawatts and the potential for modular construction. According to experts, they differ from large nuclear units mainly in their lower capacity and faster, simpler construction. Construction costs are not yet clear and will depend on various conditions.

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