NuScale Power announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica SA (SNN SA), a Romanian energy company, to exchange business and technical information on NuScale’s innovative nuclear technology. The goal of the agreement is to evaluate the development, licensing and construction of a NuScale small modular reactor (SMR) for a potential similar long-term solution in Romania. The agreement is the latest sign of growing international interest in NuScale’s innovative nuclear technology.

“With many years of experience in nuclear power, SNN SA understands the unique energy needs of Romania,” said John Hopkins, NuScale Power Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “NuScale looks forward to showcasing our safe, scalable, and reliable nuclear technology, and collaborating with SNN SA to determine what role NuScale’s technology can play in Romania’s energy future.”

“As the only nuclear power provider in Romania, we see great potential in SMRs because of the clean, safe, and affordable power they provide,” said Cosmin Ghita, Chief Executive Officer of Nuclearelectrica. “We look forward to working with NuScale to see how their groundbreaking technology can benefit our customers and power Romania’s energy needs.”

NuScale’s technology is the world’s first and only SMR to undergo design certification review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The NRC is scheduled to complete its review of NuScale’s design in September 2020. NuScale has also signed MOUs to explore the deployment of its SMR technology in Canada and Jordan.

Ontario’s Global First Power (GFP) has submitted Canada’s first small modular reactor (SMR) project license application to build a plant at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) Chalk River site, GFP announced April 1.

GFP has applied to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for a License to Prepare Site for a potential Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) project, the company said.
GFP is developing a 5 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactor designed by U.S. group Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC).

In February, GFP became the first SMR developer to advance to the third stage of Canada’s selection process to build a full-scale demonstration plant.

CNL aims to host at least one demonstration plant on site by 2026. In June 2018, four SMR developers, including Global First Power, Terrestrial Energy and Starcore Nuclear, entered into CNL’s design selection process.

GFP has progressed through the prequalification and due diligence stages of CNL’s selection process and can now proceed with stage 3, which involves non-exclusive negotiations on land arrangements, project risk management, and contractual terms, CNL said in February.