The small modular reactors (SMR) project is being carried out in accordance with the corporate approvals and resolutions of the General Meeting of Shareholders, as Nuclearelectrica’s objective is to develop a benchmark SMR project for the European Union, the company said on Monday in a report to the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB).

„Thus, in accordance with OGMS Resolution no. 6/04.12.2023, the transition from FFED (Front End Engineering Design) Phase 1 to FEED Phase 2 of the Project based on the technology of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) was approved. In accordance with EGMS Resolution no. 8/19.07.2025, the mandate of the SNN representative in the General Meeting of Shareholders of RoPower Nuclear S.A. was approved, in order to participate and cast a favourable vote on the approval of the conclusion of the FEED Phase 2 Offshore Contract and the FEED Phase 2 Onshore Contract. Thus, based on the corporate approvals, the order for commencement of works related to the FEED Phase 2 Contract, after its signing, was issued on September 26, 2024, the duration of the activities associated with it being estimated, according to the shareholders’ information, at 15 months. At present, the contract is being implemented strictly in accordance with the stages communicated to the shareholders and interested parties, in line with the development schedule,” reads the report.

The objective of the FEED Phase 2 contract is to advance the steps initiated in FEED Phase 1 and to provide additional data related to the feasibility of the project, which will be used as assumptions for the adoption of an investment decision (FID).

„At the end of FEED Phase 2, SN Nuclearelectrica SA will inform the shareholders and investors about the results of FEED 2, the investment decision being significantly conditioned by the delivery by the project partners of the related documentation, in compliance with the quality, costs and other elements of the applicable legislative framework and government support measures.”

Also, as regards the adoption of an investment decision (FID), after the finalization of FEED Phase 2, similar to the development of the Units 3 and 4 Project, the adoption of the FID depends, in accordance with the legislation in force, also on the European bodies in the field.

„The SMR project at Doicesti is being developed in compliance with the best practices in the industry, being evaluated by specialized international bodies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, whose SEED mission (Doicesti site evaluation mission) certified the actions undertaken so far as adequate, including the Doicesti site, the development direction of the project being in accordance with the highest standards. Romania, through its experts, is directly involved in the IAEA development and regulatory harmonisation programmes for the acceleration of SMR at the global level.”

According to IAEA statistics, Romania, through Units 1 and 2 of the Cernavoda nuclear-power plant, is on the first place globally in terms of average capacity factor from commissioning to date, with the highest nuclear safety standards, having the necessary experience to contribute to the advancement of the nuclear industry and the acceleration of advanced technologies, in line with the objectives of the European Union (Alliance for MRS) and international objectives.

The SMR Doicesti project is developed in partnership with organizations with experience and expertise-Nova Power and Gas, Fluor, NuScale, Sargent & Lundy, Samsung, acting together for a reference project at European level and one that will allow the development of the supply chain and the obtaining of adjacent guarantees for the development of a regional SMR centre through the experience of Romania, with the application of the highest standards in the nuclear industry and solid risk sharing mechanisms during the development of the project. Entra 1 is not a party in the development of the SMR Project.

„We thank the partners for their professionalism and the Governments of Romania and the USA for their active support and advancement of advanced SMR technology in Romania, simultaneously with the refurbishment of the existing infrastructure for its proper utilization, the project being carried out within the framework of the Romania-USA Governmental Agreement. We also mention that so far, the project has been financed through SNN loans/cash contribution to the share capital from the shareholders, without falling under the state aid legislation. The Romanian Government did not contribute to the financing of the SMR Project through grants or other facilities, the project being carried out in strict compliance with the local and European legal framework on state aid, based on and in accordance with the shareholders’ resolutions,” the company says.

Another aspect associated with the development of the SMR Project is the training of human resources, with Nuclearelectrica being actively involved in the training of a new generation of nuclear industry specialists. The company appreciates the involvement of the Romanian university system for starting and accelerating this process, mentioning the importance of the FIRST programme (SMR control room simulator) at the Politehnica University of Bucharest for the effective use of SMR technology in the training of a new generation.

„Nuclearelectrica’s objective is to develop a benchmark SMR project for the European Union, this aspect depending significantly on the existing, active and constant dialog and cooperation between partners, with consensual progress in all the mentioned directions: investment decision, legislative framework and human resources training,” the company concludes.

AGERPRES