“The Ministry of Energy welcomes the announcement made by NuScale Power regarding the approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the standard design of the 250 MWt (77 MWe) small modular reactor (SMR), planned to be used in the project in Romania. The NRC is considered the strictest regulator in the world in the nuclear sector, and the licensing model chosen by NuScale fully covers the design used, unlike other technologies, which have opted for partial licensing,” the institution said in a statement.
This decision confirms that the technology developed by NuScale complies with the most demanding nuclear safety standards in the world and paves the way for the implementation at scale of an advanced, scalable and clean energy solution, the document cited states. Romania, through the pilot project in Doicesti, can become the first country in the European Union to adopt this state-of-the-art technology, consolidating its position as a regional leader in the energy transition and a strategic partner of the US in the field of nuclear energy.
“The NRC decision on NuScale technology – the technology that Romania is also designing for the first time in Europe at Doicesti – means more than a technical confirmation. It is an international recognition of the strategic direction we are following and a clear signal that the energy future is written with courageous, innovative and visionary countries. Thus, NuScale technology, with the 77MW reactor model, becomes the most mature in the world, at present (…),” stated Burduja, as quoted in the press statement.
According to the minister, the Doicesti project means energy, but also industry, jobs, innovation, education and leadership.
The Doicesti SMR project is carried out in partnership with NuScale Power and supported by the United States Government, through the Department of Energy (DOE) and the USTDA (U.S. Trade and Development Agency). It is currently in the detailed design phase, with the final investment decision and possible start of execution expected in the first half of 2026. These will depend on a series of key variables such as financing, partners involved, direct and indirect benefits for the national economy, the statement also reads.