Another European country wants to build small modular reactors. Decision expected next year

Romania is expected to make a preliminary decision next year on whether and how to proceed with the construction of small modular reactors. According to the energy minister, quoted by Reuters, Romania could become the first European country to build a small modular reactor.

The list of serious prospective builders of small modular reactors in Europe has gained another contender. At least, this follows from a statement by Romania's energy minister, quoted by Reuters. According to him, Romania should make a preliminary decision next year on whether the country's first small modular reactor will be built.

Romania is thus becoming another European country with serious plans to develop small modular reactors. Many experts expect these types of nuclear reactors to further contribute to Europe's overall nuclear renaissance and ensure secure, low-emission electricity supplies.

The preferred project to be built in Romania appears to be a small modular reactor from NuScale. Romanian Nuclearelectrica has been working with this company since 2019.

The fact that US company NuScale is the preferred supplier is also indicated by a recent statement from Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja, according to whom the Romanian NuScale project is to be one-third cheaper than the reference project in Utah.

NuScale project burdened by high costs

Czech company ČEZ also works with NuScale. In 2019, NuScale was one of the first companies with which ČEZ entered into a partnership. At that time, NuScale was considered a global leader, but last year the company cancelled its project in the US state of Utah due to high construction costs.

Project implementation costs rose as a result of inflation and market changes - following a revision, the project's cost estimate rose to 89 USD/MWh. This raised concerns about affordability for end consumers and the project's overall economic viability.

A report by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies also shows that the construction costs of a NuScale small modular reactor are higher. According to the report, NuScale's small modular reactor costs are the highest compared with five other small modular reactor suppliers (see the following table).

Under a 2021 agreement, up to 12 modular reactors from NuScale are to be built in Romania. No final decision on the project has yet been made, so both the number and the reactor supplier may change.

Romania already operates two nuclear units with a total installed capacity of approximately 1300 MW at the Cernavodă site. Completion of two additional units is also being prepared at the site. However, preparations are still at an early stage.