Rolls-Royce gets boost for mini-nuclear after winning contract to build reactors for Czech government

Rolls-Royce’s nuclear energy ambitions received a major boost last night when the company secured a key contract.

The British engineering giant has been selected to build mini nuclear power plants for the Czech government.

Rolls-Royce has beaten off competition from French, American and Japanese rivals to be named preferred supplier to state-owned energy group CEZ.

The agreement will allow Rolls-Royce to develop and build small modular reactors (SMRs), with the first of these expected to be built near the Temelin nuclear power plant before 2035.

Nuclear power is seen as a key source of clean energy as the world moves towards net zero.

SMRs are smaller than conventional nuclear reactors and can be manufactured in factories.

They could transform the way power plants are built, making construction faster and cheaper.

Rolls-Royce hopes to build SMRs in the UK, having previously outlined plans for 16 plants across the country.

Trade and Enterprise Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said last night: “This is an extraordinary vote of confidence in British engineering and proof that the UK is at the forefront of nuclear technology.”

Other bidders for the partnership include US giant Westinghouse, US-Japanese group GE Hitachi and France’s EDF.

Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive Chris Cholerton said it was a “historic” announcement.