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Britain, Czech Republic to work together on small nuclear plants
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 14, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 14, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
The UK and Czech Republic are collaborating on small modular reactors, with potential exports of Rolls Royce units to enhance energy security and meet climate targets.
By Susanna Twidale
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain and the Czech Republic said on Monday they would work to explore opportunities for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), a partnership that could see Rolls Royce's SMR business export up to six units to the eastern European country.
Britain last month pledged 2.5 billion pounds to build SMRs, which it hopes can help increase energy security and help the country meet its climate targets while also creating export opportunities and jobs.
SMRs can be made in factories, with parts small enough to be transported on trucks and barges and assembled more quickly and cheaply than large-scale nuclear plants.
"By working with our Czech partners on small modular reactors, we’re backing British engineering, strengthening our industrial base, and putting the UK in a leading position to export the technologies of the future," UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer said in a statement from Britain's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero that also quoted his Czech counterpart.
Rolls Royce was selected last month to build Britain's first SMRs. Britain's state-owned energy company, Great British Energy - expected to sign a contract for the new plants and pick a site later this year, subject to regulatory approval.
Czech electricity producer CEZ last year said it would take a stake of about 20% in Rolls Royce’s SMR business and planned to deploy up to 3 gigawatts of the SMR plants in the country, equivalent to six units, with each unit capable of powering around 1 million homes.
Starmer and Czech Prime Minister Peter Fiala will host a business roundtable as part of the Czech premier's visit to London, to drive closer trade and investment links between the two countries.
(Reporting By Susanna Twidale; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
Britain and the Czech Republic are working together to explore opportunities for small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
Britain pledged 2.5 billion pounds to build small modular nuclear reactors.
SMRs can be manufactured in factories and transported easily, allowing for quicker and cheaper assembly compared to large-scale nuclear plants.
Rolls Royce was selected to build Britain's first small modular reactors.
Czech electricity producer CEZ plans to take a 20% stake in Rolls Royce’s SMR business and aims to deploy up to 3 gigawatts of SMR plants in the Czech Republic.
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