Romania’s Nuclearelectrica and its project company, RoPower Nuclear, have solidified their partnership with Fluor Corporation by signing the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) Phase 2 contract for the Doicești small modular reactor (SMR) project.
The signing took place at the U.S. Department of Energy-led Partnership for Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation (P-TECC) summit, highlighting the project’s strong support from both the Romanian government and international partners, including a significant grant from the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
Detailed Design and Engineering for Project Implementation
Under this FEED 2 contract, Fluor will provide RoPower Nuclear with the essential design and engineering services necessary for the project’s implementation.
The culmination of this phase will yield an updated cost estimate, project schedule, and comprehensive safety and security analyses, paving the way for a final investment decision.
SMR Project Details and Economic Impact
Romania’s SMR project aims to achieve an installed capacity of 462 MW, utilizing NuScale technology with six modules at the former coal plant site in Doicești.
Each module will have an installed capacity of 77 MW. The project is estimated to create nearly 200 permanent jobs, 1,500 construction jobs, and 2,300 manufacturing and component assembly jobs, along with additional roles in facility operation and maintenance throughout its 60-year lifespan.
Government and Industry Leaders Express Support
Sebastian Burduja, Romania’s Minister of Energy, highlighted the project’s potential to position Romania as a global hub for energy innovation and decarbonization efforts.
Cosmin Ghiță, CEO of Nuclearelectrica, emphasized the strong partnership between Romania and the United States, with the continued development of this advanced nuclear project aligning with shared goals of energy security and environmental responsibility.
Fluor’s Commitment to Clean Energy Generation
Pierre Bechelany, President of Fluor’s LNG & Power division, expressed enthusiasm for their continued role in supporting this groundbreaking project, which aims to deploy the next generation of nuclear power in Europe to produce clean and reliable baseload electricity.
Upon completion, the Doicești plant will be the first of its kind in Europe.
Broader Collaboration and Financial Support
The project benefits from a broad collaboration involving Nuclearelectrica, RoPower Nuclear, Nova Power & Gas (part of the E-INFRA group and joint owner of RoPower), Fluor, Samsung C&T Corporation, and Sargent & Lundy.
Additionally, this week, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation reaffirmed its interest in considering providing up to $1 billion in financing for the project.