Fluor Corporation and RoPower signed an agreement on Wednesday for the second phase of the FEED study, which will allow the Doicești small reactor project to move to a final investment and construction decision, according to a press release from the Embassy USA in Bucharest.
Thus, during the ministerial meeting of the Partnership for Transatlantic Cooperation in the field of Energy and Climate (P-TECC) in Bucharest, the US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, the US Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins and the Director of the Trade and Development Agency of the USA Enoh T. Ebong joined the Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja and the representatives of the American companies Fluor Corporation and NuScale Power, as well as the Romanian RoPower and Societatea Națională Nuclearelectrica to celebrate an important stage in the development of the emblematic project of Romania, regarding the modular reactor (SMR) using NuScale technology and moving towards deployment in 2029.
“It is a major step that Romania is taking towards the realization of this project, marking the continuation of a strategic collaboration with Fluor, a company with global experience in large industrial projects. The SMR project from Doicești aims to build the first nuclear power plant with SMR NuScale Power technology in Europe. It is supported both by the Romanian and American governments, as well as by international partners, including through a grant from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)”, commented the Minister of Energy, Sebastia Burduja.
“This investment has the potential to transform Romania into a global center of innovation in the field of energy. Romania aims to become an example for other countries in the region by converting coal-fired power plants into nuclear power production capabilities — providing safe, clean and competitively priced energy with a key role in balancing the national energy system.
“The Doicești project will have a significant impact on the local and national economy. It will create nearly 200 permanent jobs at the plant, 1,500 jobs during the construction phase and 2,300 jobs in manufacturing. This will stimulate the local economy and will also contribute to the training and professional development of the Romanian workforce. In addition, the project will play a crucial role in reducing CO2 emissions, helping Romania to avoid 4 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. This is a key contribution to our efforts to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable energy future.
“We continue to take concrete steps to ensure a safe, clean and sustainable energy future for Romania, proving once again that our country has the courage and capacity to carry out big and brave projects in the field of energy”, added the Minister of Energy.
“We are pleased to continue our progress with the Doicești SMR project. The continued development of this advanced nuclear project is a testament to the strong partnership between Romania and the United States, reflecting our shared goals of energy security and environmental management. The project aligns with our strategy to improve Romania’s energy mix and support the transition to clean energy,” said Cosmin Ghiță, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.
“We are building a solid project base for the future SMR plant from Doicești. The signing of FEED 2 marks the beginning of a strong partnership with the American company Fluor, with rich and global experience in the development of large industrial projects in the field of energy,” also said Melania Amuza, CEO of RoPower Nuclear.