A deal with Rolls Royce SMR could add sites in Detmarovice and Tusimice during a forthcoming UK visit this year. Preparations already started at Temelin.

The Czech Republic plans to expand the use of small modular reactors with the support of the United Kingdom and strengthen their presence in the country.

After the cabinet meeting, this was confirmed by Karel Havlíček, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

According to him, during a future visit to the United Kingdom, an agreement with Rolls-Royce SMR is expected to be signed, expanding locations in the Czech Republic to Dětmarovice and Tušimice. In other words, preparations for the expansion also cover these regions.

Havlíček also reminded that on 24 April in Prague, together with his British counterpart and representatives from ČEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR, they presented an agreement that laid the groundwork for the preparation of a new small modular reactor at Temelín.

According to the politician, preparatory work has already begun at Temelín, while three locations are under ČEZ’s control, which is expected to invest the funds.

SMR development prospects in the Czech Republic

Next week in the United Kingdom I will be able to sign the next agreement with Rolls-Royce SMR by which we will expand the locations in the Czech Republic to Dětmarovice and Tušimice. In other words, preparations are starting in these regions as well.

– Karel Havlíček

A facility expected to appear in the second half of the 2030s at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant should become an important part of the Czech energy balance alongside the planned construction of gas-fired power plants and renewable energy sources.

The Czech Republic announced its new nuclear energy program in 2019.

Earlier, nuclear energy expert Olha Kosharna stated that in the context of the war in Ukraine it is not feasible to build large nuclear reactors, but there are prospects for developing small modular reactors.

Government support for such projects underscores the country’s commitment to ensuring a stable and safe energy supply in the long term.