Romania’s small modular reactor (SMR) project at Doicesti has come under increased scrutiny after interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan publicly questioned the economic justification of the venture and the substantial investments already committed to its early development stages.
PM Bolojan criticized the project led by state-owned energy company Nuclearelectrica in partnership with private firm Nova Power and Gas, which is based on SMR technology developed by US company NuScale Power. According to the prime minister, more than 240 million dollars has already been invested despite the fact that the technology has not yet been commercially deployed anywhere in the world. He warned that Romania risks ending up with only land and technical studies instead of an operational nuclear facility.
The prime minister argued that Nuclearelectrica should instead focus on expanding the existing nuclear infrastructure at NPP Cernavoda, particularly through the long-planned construction of units 3 and 4, which he described as more advanced and capable of delivering concrete energy production results.
The criticism also reignited debate over the financial structure of the Doicesti project. Nova Power and Gas, which holds a 50 % stake in the project company, had previously acquired the site before later selling it to the joint venture. The company defended the transaction after concerns were raised regarding the valuation of the property.
In response, Nova Power and Gas stated that the site was transferred for around 24 million euros and included far more than undeveloped land. According to the company, the assets included a 50-hectare industrial platform, electrical infrastructure, a transformer station, internal roads, office buildings, and other operational facilities. The valuation was reportedly supported by assessments from three independent consulting and appraisal firms, including two international advisory companies.
Meanwhile, Nuclearelectrica defended the progress of the SMR initiative, stating that development activities remain on schedule and that the project is currently advancing through preliminary engineering and technical evaluation stages required for nuclear projects of this scale. The company noted that FEED 1 and FEED 2 analyses were completed during 2023 and 2024.
PM Bolojan has become the first senior Romanian official to openly question the viability of the project since its launch. He also expressed concerns about the broader financing structure, as the full development of the planned six-module facility could require investments of between 6 and 7 billion dollars.
Earlier this year, Nuclearelectrica approved a final investment decision to continue preparatory activities for the project. However, the current strategy foresees construction of only the first 77 MW reactor module initially, while the remaining five units would proceed only if the first reactor proves both commercially and technically successful.
According to the current timeline, the first reactor module could begin commercial operations in July 2033, while the entire planned 462 MW SMR complex could become fully operational by the end of 2034, depending on future agreements regarding the remaining modules.
