Press Release

The Doicești Small Modular Reactors (SMR) project obtains the Final Investment Decision and enters the third stage of development

 Bucharest, February 12^th, 2026                                   

 The shareholders of SN Nuclearelectrica SA approved today, 12 February 2026, the final investment decision for the Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Project in Doicești. With this decision, Romania marks the most advanced step at European level in the development of an SMR project and is based on a series of additional conditions aimed at establishing a solid framework of support and cooperation, at the level of partnerships and authorities, for the optimal development and implementation of the project.

The SMR project in Doicești, in which SNN holds a 50% stake in the project company RoPower Nuclear SA, was effectively launched in September 2022, following the technology and site selection process, with the approval by the GMS of the project implementation strategy. In 2023 and 2024, the initial stages of FEED 1 and FEED 2 technical analyses, mandatory in a nuclear project, were completed, and independent IAEA assessment missions were carried out on the selected site, whose conclusions confirmed the steps taken and led to the implementation of additional measures. The FEED 2 stage was completed on schedule and at a lower budget than initially estimated.

“The Final Investment Decision for the SMR project in Doicești marks the transition from the analysis phase to the implementation phase, consolidating Romania’s position at the forefront of the new European nuclear industry. We are replacing 600 MW from a former thermal power plant with 462 MW of clean, stable, and predictable energy. Approximately 4,000 jobs will be generated in the development phase, in construction, production, and component assembly, and in the long term, we are talking about stable, well-paid jobs and the development of a horizontal Romanian industry. Over the next six months, the project will enter a phase of financial structuring and partnership consolidation, during which financing mechanisms will be defined and discussions with potential investors for the execution phase will be advanced. The Doicești project is about Romania building, producing, and consolidating its position in Europe.” – Bogdan Ivan, Minister of Energy

“The Small Modular Reactors (SMR) project in Doicești is the project through which Romania is positioning itself on the international map of the nuclear industry, through know-how and the development of the supply chain, at a stage in the energy transition where, globally and in Europe, modular reactors are a solution for ensuring energy security and independence. International reports confirm that the global SMR portfolio has grown by 65% since 2021 to a planned capacity of 22 gigawatts. Therefore, globally, SMRs have become a reality in terms of security of supply and decarbonisation: accepted, developed, accelerated.” – Cosmin Ghiță, CEO of SN Nuclearelectrica SA

By May 2026, RoPower Nuclear (the project company) will carry out a series of activities prior to Stage 3 (Pre-EPC), including:

• completion of geotechnical investigations;
• continuing the licensing process;
• finalizing the Pre-EPC contract negotiations;
• negotiating contracts for long-lead items;
• defining supply chains for materials and equipment;
• preparing the organization for the Pre-EPC and EPC phases.

Stage 3 – Pre-EPC will have an estimated duration of 15 months and will have the following deliverables:

• estimated Class 2 budget;
• identification of contractors;
• Contractual structure for agreements such as: Pre-EPC Agreement, extension of the technology license agreement with NuScale; environmental impact assessment agreements, etc.

In parallel with these technical steps, efforts will continue in the coming period to structure the investment and financial framework of the project in preparation for the execution phase. The goal is for the project to become operational at the beginning of the next decade, subject to all corporate approvals and the applicable regulatory framework.

“Nuclear energy cannot be missing from the energy mix of a highly industrialized country. SMR technology is the most modern and safest of the nuclear technologies for electricity production. We are proud to be part of this project with our company, Nova Power & Gas, and I am convinced that together with our American partners we will find solutions to make the project a technical and economic success” – Teofil Mureșan, Founder and Chairman of the Board of E-INFRA.

“The Doicești project means 60 years of clean energy. The RoPower team is a team of professionals who have worked and will continue to work on a safe and technologically advanced project, that of Small Modular Reactors. We remain committed to this project, which is an opportunity for Romania to demonstrate once again that it is at the forefront of energy production using nuclear technology.” – Valentin Ovidiu Nae, CEO of RoPower Nuclear.

The Doicești Small Modular Reactors (SMR) project directly addresses energy security and independence needs, as well as decarbonization objectives, in line with Romania’s strategy.

The SMR project will replace the 600 MW installed in the former Doicești thermal power plant with 462 MW of clean energy. Approximately 4,000 jobs will be available during the development period: 200 permanent jobs, 1,500 during the construction period, 2,300 jobs in the production and assembly of components, plus the development of a related industry and the attraction of associated investments.

For Nuclearelectrica and Romania, this project strengthens their international position in the nuclear industry, generates economic and financial impact, and contributes directly to energy security and the flexibility of the national energy system, complementing renewable resources.