Aecon and Norsk Kjernekraft aim to develop SMRs in Norway

The partnership aims to develop a roadmap for feasibility studies, licensing, stakeholder management and site identification - Norsk Kjernekraft has already identified 10 potential locations where environmental assessments will begin.

Jonny Hesthammer, CEO of Norsk Kjernekraft, said: "This agreement represents an important step towards building strong international partnerships that can accelerate the development of SMRs in Norway. Aecon’s experience with Canada’s first BWRX-300 project provides valuable insights as we navigate Norway’s regulatory and policy landscape."

Aaron Johnson, Senior Vice President, Nuclear, Aecon Group Inc, said: "Partnering with Norsk Kjernekraft marks an exciting step forward ... from advanced manufacturing and automation to lessons learned and best practices, we are proud to bring our nuclear expertise to support the critical steps of this new build programme."

Norsk Kjernekraft aims to build, own and operate SMR power plants in Norway in collaboration with power-intensive industry. It says it will prepare licence applications in accordance with national regulations and international standards. It will follow the International Atomic Energy Agency's approach for milestones, and focus on what creates value in the early phase. Financing will take place in collaboration with capital-strong industry and solid financial players.

Aecon Kiewit Nuclear Partners were awarded a construction contract in May for the execution phase of Ontario Power Generation's Darlington New Nuclear Project to build a GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR - described as North America's first grid-scale small modular reactor. It is being delivered under an Integrated Project Delivery model. Aecon, the lead in the general partnership with Kiewit Nuclear Canada, said in May its share of the contract is valued at approximately CAD1.3 billion (USD934 million).