Czech energy company ČEZ has completed nine geological drillings near the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, advancing preparations for the country’s first small modular reactor (SMR). The collected data will support a site permit application to be submitted to the State Office for Nuclear Safety next year.

Construction of the SMR is scheduled to begin in 2029 with completion planned in the mid-2030s. The reactor will be a pressurised water type with a capacity of 470 megawatts and a projected lifespan of at least 60 years. ČEZ has partnered with British firm Rolls-Royce SMR, acquiring a 20% stake to co-develop and manufacture the technology on a global scale.

Rolls-Royce SMR has also been selected by the UK’s Great British Nuclear agency to build the first three SMRs in Britain, reinforcing its position as a leading supplier. Future SMRs in the Czech Republic are expected to match Temelín’s planned capacity and complement the country’s existing nuclear infrastructure.

Source: Ceskenoviny.cz

Author: CzechTrade and CzechInvest office in New York