Southern Romanian industrial park entirely rented out for NuScale's compact nuclear power plant project
Unleashing Nuclear Power in Romania: The Priboiu Industrial Park Transforms
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The bustling hub of Priboiu Industrial Park, nestled in Brănești commune, Dâmbovița county, is all set to host a monumental shift. This vibrant industrial area is slated to become the construction site of a futuristic 462 MW nuclear power plant, powered by Small Modular Reactors (SMR) designed by the American powerhouse NuScale, as reported by Profit.ro.
negotiations concluded in December 2024, locking in the use of the park's 32 hectares for setting up the construction site once the EPC project of the SMRs kicks off. The EPC project entails the engineering, procurement, and construction phases of the project.
The SMR nuclear power plant project at Doicești, which will be implemented by joint venture RoPower Nuclear SA, sees equal ownership from Nuclearelectrica, Romania's state-owned energy producer, and Nova Power&Gas.
Priboiu Industrial Park is controlled by Dâmbovița County Council and is owned by a company of the same name. The village is a mere 4 kilometers from Doicești, and as of last year, it housed 9 businesses active in manufacturing and commerce, according to Profit.ro. Romania plans to make the final investment decision on the construction of the 462 MW power plant in the last quarter of 2025.
In an interview last month, NuScale CEO John Hopkins shared, "Things are going swimmingly with the engineering and design study. [...] The government or Nuclearelectrica will decide whether to proceed with the next phase, which is the actual construction of the plant."
Several financial steps have been taken to fund the project. Despite this, costs remain substantial. Romania's Energy Ministry estimates the project to require a hefty EUR 4.9 billion budget.
Interestingly, in November 2023, NuScale announced the axing of a similar project in the United States, marked as the company's inaugural endeavor in this field. The cancellation stemmed from escalating costs due to the surge in steel prices and inflation, pushing NuScale's Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) estimates to approximately $89/MWh, which made it financially infeasible. Furthermore, insufficient utility commitments and extended regulatory delays contributed to the project's demise.
While Romania-specific updates focus on site preparations, the cancellation of the U.S. project reflects a broader trend of escalating costs and regulatory challenges faced by SMR projects. NuScale persists in pursuing international projects, including the one in Romania, capitalizing on Europe's stronger policy support for SMRs while maintaining its U.S. regulatory approvals for design standardization.
(Photo source: nuclearelectrica.ro)
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- The Priboiu Industrial Park, situated in Brașteni commune, Dămbovița county, will become the location for constructing a future-oriented 462 MW nuclear power plant by 2025, as reported by Profit.ro.
- The planned SMR nuclear power plant project at Doicești, led by RoPower Nuclear SA, a joint venture between Nuclearelectrica and Nova Power&Gas, will occupy a 32-hectare site in Priboiu Industrial Park, following the successful conclusion of negotiations in December 2024.
- The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) project of the SMRs will pave the way for the transition of Priboiu Industrial Park into a hub of science, technology, and innovative renewable energy solutions.
- The sports industry is expected to thrive in Romania alongside the advancement of science and technology, as reductions in power costs attributed to the implementation of the SMRs will open up possibilities for investment in sports infrastructure and events.
