Romania’s flagship small modular reactor (SMR) project is nearing a critical milestone as shareholders of Nuclearelectrica prepare to vote on the final investment decision for the NuScale-based SMR development at Doicesti. The extraordinary general meeting is scheduled for 12–13 February and was convened at the request of the Romanian state, the company’s majority shareholder.
The Doicesti project has regained political support after months of uncertainty. In December, Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the SMR initiative, noting that discussions with project partners had produced a financial framework capable of covering the current development phase. Authorities continue to signal that the first reactor unit could enter operation between 2027 and 2028.
Nuclearelectrica has described the upcoming shareholder vote as a critical step for advancing one of Romania’s most strategically important energy investments. The state controls 82.5% of the company, which holds a 50% stake in RoPower Nuclear, the joint venture established to develop the Doicesti site. The remaining half is owned by Nova Power & Gas, part of the Romanian infrastructure group E-INFRA.
The planned facility would include six NuScale-designed small modular reactors with a combined capacity of 462 MW. Cost estimates remain uncertain, with the Ministry of Energy citing a reference budget of approximately €4.9 billion, while noting that the final cost could vary significantly due to the early stage of design and market volatility. Cost concerns have been a major challenge for NuScale projects globally; in late 2023, the US technology provider cancelled a comparable 462 MW SMR project in the United States after projected costs surged by more than 75%, underscoring the financial risks associated with such nuclear developments.