ČEZ selects Amentum to support SMR programme

Tuesday, 8 April 2025

In September last year, the Czech Republic chose UK firm Rolls-Royce SMR after assessing seven potential technology suppliers for its proposed small modular reactor (SMR) programme. The first SMR is planned by ČEZ at a site near the existing Temelin nuclear power plant in the 2030s. ČEZ said it was also looking at other sites suitable for SMRs, including Tušimice and Dětmarovice where survey and monitoring work was taking place to see if they are suitable nuclear sites.

ČEZ has now selected Amentum to deliver environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports relating to proposals for Rolls-Royce SMRs at Temelin and Tušimice, a coal-fired power station which is due for decommissioning.

Amentum said the work would be carried out by its Brno-based nuclear and project management specialists.

Amentum's team carried out initial scoping studies for the two sites and then won the contract to complete the full reports after a public tender. The EIAs will cover potential radiological hazards, waste management, accident conditions and consequences, measures to prevent groundwater and river contamination, transport, noise and dispersion.

The completed EIA reports will be subject to a public hearing and independent assessment before they can be formally approved by the Czech Ministry of the Environment.

"Our global nuclear capability, combined with our long-standing presence in Czechia and deep knowledge of the planning process, makes us the ideal partner to advance this strategic project," said Andy White, Senior Vice President of Amentum Energy & Environment International. "Our objective is to help ČEZ and Rolls-Royce take a huge step along the critical path towards demonstrating the effectiveness of SMRs for decarbonising electricity production."

In October last year, ČEZ agreed to take a 20% stake in Rolls-Royce SMR. The agreement between the two companies will see them work on plans for the deployment of SMRs providing up to 3 GW of capacity in the Czech Republic.

The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. 90% of the SMR - measuring about 16 metres by 4 metres - will be built in factory conditions, limiting on-site activity primarily to assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, modules which significantly reduces project risk and has the potential to drastically shorten build schedules.

Nuclear Power in the Czech Republic
 

The Czech Republic currently gets about one-third of its electricity from four VVER-440 units at Dukovany, which began operating between 1985 and 1987, and the two VVER-1000 units in operation at Temelín, which came into operation in 2000 and 2002. In July 2024, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power was named the preferred bidder for up to four new units at the two existing nuclear power plants, with the target of the first unit entering commercial operation in 2038.

The Czech SMR roadmap was published and approved in November 2023, setting out options for technology suppliers and identifying a range of potential sites - 45 in total - as well as investor models. Its vision is for "SMRs to complement large nuclear units from 2030s-40s onwards".