Belgium, Italy, Romania, and U.S. Forge Historic Partnership for Small Nuclear Reactors

Belgium, Italy, Romania, and U.S.-based company Westinghouse Electric have established a consortium dedicated to advancing the development of small nuclear reactors. This initiative comes at a pivotal moment as numerous European nations are reevaluating their approaches to nuclear energy.

The formalization of this partnership took place on Thursday, with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo leading the ceremony. Also in attendance were Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, along with representatives from the Italian and U.S. embassies in Belgium.

This consortium boasts a formidable lineup of participants, including Italian firms Ansaldo and ENEA, the Romanian research institution RATEN, and Belgium's renowned nuclear research center SCK CEN.

De Croo emphasized the strategic importance of this endeavor, stating, "A year and a half ago, we made a strategic decision to expedite our energy transition. This involves reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, curbing emissions, and decreasing our dependence on nations like Russia. We are achieving this by making substantial investments in offshore energy, hydrogen infrastructure, and the future of nuclear power."

He went on to disclose a significant commitment of 100 million euros ($106.8 million) towards the research and development of small modular reactors. This substantial investment underscores the consortium's dedication to pioneering sustainable and forward-thinking solutions in the field of nuclear energy.

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