The small modular reactor (SMR) initiative at Doicesti, Romania, is facing intensified criticism regarding its financial viability and strategic direction. Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has publicly raised concerns about the economic rationale behind the project, which is spearheaded by state-owned Nuclearelectrica in collaboration with private entity Nova Power and Gas. The prime minister highlighted that over 240 million dollars has already been invested, despite the fact that the underlying technology from NuScale Power has yet to achieve commercial deployment globally.
Bolojan has suggested that Nuclearelectrica should prioritize enhancing the existing nuclear capacity at NPP Cernavoda, particularly through the construction of units 3 and 4, which he argues would yield more immediate energy production benefits. This shift in focus could potentially redirect resources towards projects that are further along in their development cycle.
The financial structure of the Doicesti project has also come under scrutiny. Nova Power and Gas, which holds a 50% stake in the joint venture, previously acquired the site before transferring it to the project company for approximately 24 million euros. The company defended this transaction amid concerns regarding property valuation, asserting that the site encompasses a 50-hectare industrial platform, along with essential infrastructure such as electrical systems, a transformer station, and operational facilities.
Nuclearelectrica has responded to these criticisms by affirming that development activities are progressing as planned. The company reported that preliminary engineering and technical evaluations are ongoing, with FEED 1 and FEED 2 analyses completed in 2023 and 2024. This suggests that despite the challenges, the project remains on track for its initial phases.
Bolojan’s comments mark a significant moment, as he is the first high-ranking official to openly question the project’s feasibility since its inception. He expressed concern over the overall financing model, noting that full development of the six-module facility could necessitate investments ranging from 6 to 7 billion dollars.
This year, Nuclearelectrica approved a final investment decision to advance preparatory efforts for the SMR project. However, plans currently indicate that only the first 77 MW reactor module will be constructed initially; subsequent units will proceed contingent upon the successful commercial and technical performance of this first reactor.
If timelines are adhered to, commercial operations for the first reactor module could commence by July 2033, while the entire 462 MW SMR complex may achieve full operational status by late 2034, subject to future agreements concerning additional modules.
