MoU starts evaluation of NuScale SMR for Ukraine

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was signed at NuScale's Portland, Oregon headquarters in January, the SSTC NRS and NuScale will collaborate on the regulatory and design gaps between US and Ukrainian processes for the licensing, construction and operation of a NuScale power plant.

"This MoU will advance knowledge about how SMR technology can serve the energy needs of Ukraine," SSTC NRS Director Igor Shevchenko said. "The results of the evaluation will be integral to the licensing process for SMRs and the future deployment of NuScale's technology in Ukraine."

The SSTC NRS serves as a key advisor to Ukraine's State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate (SNRIU) on the review and approval of new nuclear technologies. The SSTC NRS also provides technical advice and independent assessment for the SNRIU to verify compliance with rules, regulations, and standards of nuclear safety, and conduct data analysis and reporting on the safety of nuclear energy.

NuScale's SMR design features a factory-fabricated 60 MWe power module based on a scalable version of pressurised water reactor technology, and the company expects a first SMR-based plant to begin generating power in the USA in the mid-2020s. The company has signed MoUs to explore the deployment of its technology in Canada, the Czech Republic, Jordan and Romania, and said it continues to discuss similar agreements with potential customers worldwide.