The technology works and the business model of small modular reactors (Small Modular Reactors -SMR) will work in Romania, Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, US Department of Energy, told Agerpres on Wednesday.

The next phase of site-specific engineering studies for the Doicesti Small Modular Reactor project was launched on Wednesday, with this carbon-free energy source set to contribute to the phasing out of Romania’s coal-fired assets and position it as a potential hub of the SMR distribution chain.

According to the American official, the costs of the project will be determined by these studies estimated to last 13 months.

“The costs are still under question, but the US wants to help, we care about this partnership and we are grateful to Romania for joining us,” said Jennifer Granholm, who was present, on Tuesday and Wednesday, at the fifth meeting of the Partnership for Cooperation Transatlantic in Energy and Climate from Bucharest.

Regarding the fact that the SMR project in Idaho was abandoned, the American official explained that in that case it was not a matter of technology problems, but of the fact that there were not enough concentrated customers.

“The business model didn’t work for that place, it’s a completely different situation here. The technology works and the business model will work,” Granholm said.