Ukraine's Energoatom joins EU industrial alliance on small modular reactors

MOSCOW. May 2 (Interfax) - The NAEC Energoatom board has decided to join the EU Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) at its meeting.

"The accession was formalized by the signing of a declaration of agreement with the main goals and principles of the European Industrial Alliance on SMRs by the company's CEO Pyotr Kotin," Ukrainian media quoted Energoatom as saying on social media on Thursday.

The alliance aims to accelerate the development, demonstration and deployment of the first SMR projects in Europe in the early 2030s.

The alliance brings together SMR developers, researchers, employees of financial institutions, operators, regulators, training centers and civil society organizations who will work together on a strategic action plan and roadmaps for early introduction of SMRs.

"Given Energoatom's agreements with Holtec International and other partners, enhanced cooperation with European countries will help Ukraine achieve its goals of implementing the SMR technology by the 2030s," Kotin said.

As reported, acting Chairman of the Board of NAEC Energoatom Pyotr Kotin and President and CEO of Holtec International Kris Singh signed an agreement on the production of SMR components in Ukraine in April 2024. The agreement envisions the establishment of facilities in Ukraine for the production and manufacture of nuclear systems, structures and components for SMRs, spent nuclear fuel storage and transportation systems, and covers other nuclear energy application needs in the country and other countries in the region.

In April 2023, the parties also declared a plan to install up to 20 SMR reactors in Ukraine.