Preparations for the Czech Republic’s first small modular reactor in Temelín are in full swing. ČEZ is currently completing a series of in-depth geological drillings designed to provide crucial data for the permit application. The reactor could be built right next to the existing units.
In the immediate vicinity of the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, preparations are under way for the country’s first small modular reactor (SMR). Experts are now finishing a number of demanding drillings, the results of which will be included in the application for a building permit. This application is to be submitted in 2027 to the State Office for Nuclear Safety – with the aim of constructing the country’s first SMR directly alongside the existing reactor units.
The focus is deep underground: what is the composition of the rock on which the new reactor is to stand? And how stable are the layers? To answer these questions, geologists have carried out nine core drillings to depths of up to 200 metres at the south-western edge of the plant site.
The first, smaller SMR-specific drilling campaign took place three years ago – at that time, four boreholes were drilled to depths of up to 30 metres. The current data is essential for the permit application, as required by the Atomic Act. At the same time, the complex permitting process is in progress: the spatial planning documents of the South Bohemian Region have already been amended, and the environmental impact assessment (EIA) is currently being prepared. ČEZ plans to submit the relevant documentation next year.
ČEZ has also strengthened its position internationally: this year, the company acquired around 20 per cent of the British SMR developer, Rolls-Royce. This secured not only a strategic influence but also a place in a project that has already gained momentum in the United Kingdom. The government agency Great British Nuclear has selected Rolls-Royce SMR as a preferred supplier – a move expected to enable the construction of the first three British mini-reactors. A decision that is also significant for the Czech Republic.
Nuclear energy will play a key role both in the United Kingdom and in the Czech Republic in creating a secure, clean, and affordable energy supply for future generations. Each Rolls-Royce SMR will deliver stable, cost-effective, and emissions-free electricity – enough to power one million households for at least 60 years.
