Study for modular reactor in Czech Vřesová suspended over Trump's executive orders

Work on a study into siting a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) at the Vřesová site of the Sokolovská uhelná and SUAS GROUP has been suspended following the relevant executive orders issued by US President Donald Trump. The company secured a grant from the US State Department's Phoenix programme. With the US administration suspending foreign aid, completion of the study is uncertain, SUAS GROUP chairman David Najvar told the Czech News Agency.

“Preparation of the feasibility study being developed as part of our project to site a small modular reactor in Vřesová has currently been halted by the US consultants. Under the executive orders of the US presidential administration, it was decided to suspend this programme for 90 days for the time being. However, communication with the Czech state continues in order to secure the conditions for a nuclear site, which is a prerequisite for the next phases of the project,” Najvar said.

SUAS GROUP could receive up to $1.5 million (roughly CZK 34.5 million) for preparation of the feasibility study. The company's co-financing was expected to be around $0.5 million (CZK 11.5 million). Under the funding arrangement, the grant covers the work of the US consultants preparing the study.

According to Sokolovská uhelná and SUAS GROUP, work on the study is around halfway complete. Under the original agreement, it was due to be completed by the end of this year. It is unclear whether the US grant programme will resume and, if so, to what extent and when.

Consultants from US companies Jensen Hughes and EXCEL Services assessed, among other things, the suitability of the Vřesová site in terms of reactor cooling, grid connection, ground composition and other technical aspects of operation. The SMR type under consideration could have capacity of around 400 to 500 MWe (electric megawatts). Plans to site an SMR at Vřesová are part of Sokolovská uhelná's and SUAS GROUP's efforts to seek new energy sources after ending lignite mining and processing.

The Phoenix programme was open to 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In addition to Sokolovská uhelná and SUAS GROUP, Slovenské elektrárne and Poland's PKN Orlen and Synthos – Orlen Synthos Green Energy were also selected.