Nuclearelectrica said the development of the U.S.-backed Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project at Doicești will continue under its existing implementation strategy after shareholders rejected a proposal to reassess the project.
At the company’s General Shareholders’ Meeting on July 15, shareholders, including the majority shareholder, Romania’s Ministry of Energy, voted against a proposal to initiate a review of the implementation strategy approved in September 2022. The proposal had sought to evaluate alternative SMR technologies and potential sites considering recent technological developments and challenges affecting the project’s final investment decision (FID).
Nuclearelectrica said the review was intended to authorize a technology benchmarking study and the assessment of multiple development scenarios to identify the most advantageous solution for Romania. The company argued that several conditions required for the FID on the Doicești project could not be met due to factors beyond the control of either Nuclearelectrica or project company RoPower Nuclear S.A.
The company noted that the Doicești project is a First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK) initiative, making it inherently more complex from a technical, operational and financial perspective than projects based on already deployed technologies. It said the proposed reassessment mechanism had also been considered necessary by the Ministry of Energy to better manage the risks associated with deploying a first commercial SMR project.
According to Nuclearelectrica, the shareholders’ decision means the company will continue implementing the original development strategy approved in 2022. In line with shareholder approvals granted in February 2026, Nuclearelectrica and RoPower Nuclear will continue negotiations with NuScale Power on the commercial terms for the purchase of SMR modules and the project’s Framework Agreement, while also holding discussions with the Romanian government on meeting the remaining FID conditions.
The company stressed that all conditions attached to the FID must be fulfilled before the project can advance to the Pre-EPC phase. It said discussions with the Ministry of Energy regarding financial support and other outstanding requirements have so far not produced concrete results.
Nuclearelectrica said it remains committed to developing the Doicești SMR project and its other strategic investments in accordance with existing shareholder approvals. The next update on the project’s progress under the current strategy is scheduled to be presented to shareholders in September 2026.
Separately, shareholders rejected a proposal to establish a foundation dedicated to developing nuclear-sector expertise and attracting European funding for professional training. Nuclearelectrica described the decision as a missed opportunity to strengthen Romania’s long-term nuclear workforce, although it said it would continue providing specialized training for personnel involved in nuclear safety activities.
The company also confirmed it is taking the necessary legal steps to inform shareholders about the findings and recommendations of an audit conducted by the Romanian Prime Minister’s Audit Office while reaffirming that the SMR project and other major investments will proceed in line with current shareholder mandates.