A US feasibility study has concluded that Slovakia could lead the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). The study was part of the US State Department’s Project Phoenix. It was undertaken in cooperation with US-based international engineering company Sargent & Lundy, the Slovak Economy Ministry Slovak power plants and Slovenské elektrárne (SE) as expert partner.
The aim of the study was to independently assess Slovakia’s technical, economic, environmental and regulatory assumptions for the deployment of SMRs. The study analysed more than 100 different parameters as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), such as external risks, geotechnical conditions, environmental and safety aspects, and location suitability.
Four specific sites were considered – the Bohunice and Mochovce NPPs and former coal plants at Vojany and US Steel Košice (a subsidiary of the United States Steel Corporation). They were investigated from the point of view of seismic stability, water availability, network connection options and environmental impacts. All the sites met the basic criteria for the construction of an SMR. At the same time, reactor designs from leading developers were assessed. The results showed that several of these technologies are technically suitable for Slovak conditions and meet international safety standards.
The introduction of the SMR could bring Slovakia:
- stable and at the same time flexible electricity generation without CO₂ emissions;
- support for climate goals;
- new jobs and investment in the regions
- strengthened energy independence and security;
- increased capabilities and competencies for the Slovak nuclear industry; and
- gradual construction of new stable electricity sources according to real need.
“Sargent & Lundy conducted this SMR feasibility study for Slovakia in accordance with the highest international standards for nuclear power plant development,” said Joshua Best, senior manager at Sargent & Lundy. “The report affirms that Slovakia is strategically situated to deploy SMRs, with several mature, safe, and secure SMR technologies available that align with the country’s needs and goals. All candidate sites assessed are viable, and Slovakia is primed to take the next steps should they choose to proceed”
Slovenské elektrárne views SMRs as a complementary solution to existing nuclear and renewable energy sources. The study recommends developing a tailored regulatory framework, conducting detailed site investigations, and continuing engagement with technology vendors. Public involvement and transparent communication will be essential throughout the process.
Slovakia currently has five nuclear reactors (all VVER-440 units) generating half of its electricity – three at Mochovce, which began operation in 1998, 1999 and 2023) and two at Bohunice, which began operation in 1984 and 1985. A fourth unit at Mochovce is under construction.
In February 2023 Jadrová Energetická Spoločnosť Slovenska (JESS) submitted a request to the Slovak Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ÚJD) for a siting permit for a new NPP near the Bohunice plant. The Government approved plans in May 2024 for a 1,200 MWe unit then in September 2025 ministers approved wording for a proposed intergovernmental agreement with the USA, which has now been signed.
The development of SMRs is continuing in parallel with this project. SE Board Chairman and CEO Branislav Strýček said small modular reactors represent a strategic opportunity for Slovakia. “They can strengthen our energy security, contribute to decarbonisation while bringing new investment to the regions. The study confirms that we have not only the appropriate sites, but also the professional potential and experience we can build on. We are already thinking of future sources – demand for electricity will grow in the coming years and small modular reactors are one of the real alternatives to respond responsibly to this challenge.” He added: “Our goal is to foster an open dialogue with the public and the expert community. Decisions about the future of energy must be grounded in facts, trust, and broad societal consensus.”
Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy Szabolcs Hodosy noted: “For the state, it is crucial that such decisions are based on expert analyses, international safety standards, and transparent dialogue with the public. I am glad that a new area of nuclear energy is taking shape in Slovakia, where we can make use of our many years of experience and thus also outline a clear direction for future generations of ‘nuclear experts’. Nuclear energy is experiencing its renaissance, and we must take timely steps – both in education and in preparing infrastructure, as well as in promoting support for nuclear energy across all platforms – so that we can then share the benefits of nuclear energy production at both the national and regional levels,”
US Deputy Chief of Mission Heather Rogers said: “We are delighted to support Slovakia’s efforts to strengthen energy resilience and shared prosperity and look forward to continued collaboration.” She added: “Project Phoenix demonstrates Slovakia’s robust nuclear energy experience, infrastructure, regulatory framework, and industrial base provide a strong platform for early deployment of small modular reactor technologies under the highest international safety and security standards,”
Project Pheonix is one of several US State Department organisations supporting SMR deployment in Slovakia. In October 2024, SE and its partners received a $5m US Nuclear Expediting the Energy Transition (NEXT) project covering the period until the end of 2025. As well as SE, the joint bid for the grant included the Economy Ministry, the Slovak Technical University, the Office for Nuclear Supervision, the Slovak Electricity & Transmission System, engineering company VUJE and US Steel Košice.
The activities supported by the grant included consulting services around the technical and regulatory requirements for SMRs, cooperation with universities and nuclear facilities and strategies for the deployment of SMRs. The NEXT programme was announced by the Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry at the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Bucharest, Romania in September 2023. It is a sub-programme of FIRST, which was established in 2021 to provide capacity-building support to partner countries developing nuclear energy programmes to support clean energy goals. By August 2023 it claimed 20 partner countries in which it had invested some $21m.
This followed an initial award from Project Phoenix, which in 2023 had allocated $2m to fund feasibility studies into the potential for SMRs in Slovakia on the sites of former coal-fired power plants. The Phoenix Project, which is also part of FIRST, was announced by Kerry at the COP27 climate conference in 2022. The first recipients were the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia and Slovenia.
Staff from Project Phoenix implementation partners, Sargent & Lundy, visited Slovakia in February 2024 to carry out the initial field survey of potential sites. They visited the Bohunice and Mochovce NPPs as well as the Nováky and Vojany coal-fired plants.
Reorienting FIRST
While the FIRST programme and its “subsidiary” programmes clearly continue to operate, every reference to it has disappeared from the US State Department website. An AI query produced the following information. As of early 2026, FIRST “remains the flagship international capacity-building initiative for the US Department of State”.
Recent developments and the current status of the programme include:
Bulgaria Partnership: On 16 January the US and Bulgarian partners concluded major seminars on stakeholder engagement and industrial applications of SMRs to prepare Bulgaria’s energy sector for future SMR deployment.
Central Asia Expansion: In early January, FIRST expanded its presence in Central Asia by providing the Kazakhstan Institute of Nuclear Physics with a specialised SMR classroom simulator designed to serve as a regional training hub.
Feasibility Studies: The programme is currently funding an SMR feasibility study in Kazakhstan, conducted in partnership with Sargent & Lundy, to identify suitable US reactor designs for specific local sites.
FIRST continues to manage several specialised sub-programmes including Project Phoenix, NEXT and WECAN ( a collaborative effort with Japan to support SMR deployment in third-party countries).
The AI response to a question about the absence of any reference to FIRST on the State Department website, the response was:
“References to the FIRST programme have been removed from the main US Department of State website as part of a broader reorganisation of federal digital resources following a change in administration in early 2025. The absence of these pages is due to several administrative and technical factors.” These are:
Archive Transition: Content related to the 2021–2025 administration’s initiatives, including the FIRST programme’s original factsheets and announcements, has been moved to the 2021-2025.state.gov archive site. This is standard practice for new administrations to clear the primary state.gov domain for their own policy priorities.
Executive Order Directives: In January 2025, internal directives instructed federal agencies to remove media and websites that included specific language (such as certain climate-focused or Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility terms). Since the FIRST programme was originally launched at the 2021 Leaders’ Summit on Climate, much of its descriptive material was flagged during this review.
New Policy Branding: Under the current “America First” foreign policy framework, global nuclear cooperation has been refocused. While the FIRST programme’s core functions continue, they are increasingly integrated into the NEXT and Project Phoenix programmes, which prioritise US commercial competitiveness and energy independence.
“Digital Decay” and Site Removals: Since mid-January 2025, thousands of federal web pages have been taken offline or become inaccessible due to expired security certificates and a “broad review” of programs to eliminate “wasteful spending”.
Despite its removal from the public-facing state.gov homepage, the programme remains active. It continues to be administered by the Bureau of International Security & Nonproliferation (ISN) within the Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR).
Partner Coordination: Partner countries often coordinate through the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), which manages sub-grants for FIRST. ISTC promotes global security and non-proliferation by redirecting former weapons scientists from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Georgia towards peaceful, civilian science and technology activities.
The ISTC is a key partner for the FIRST programme, managing and coordinating projects focused on building capacity and workforce development for SMR technology in Central Asia and the Caucasus. As to 2026 Grant Guidelines, AI noted that specific funding calls for FIRST are currently being rebranded under America First foreign policy objectives. Grants typically fund technical capacity-building, site characterisation, and regulatory development for SMRs in partner countries. Projects must align with the IAEA Milestones Approach and demonstrate adherence to non-proliferation and nuclear security standards. The 2026 guidelines prioritise projects that harness US public-private partnerships and utilise the innovation of the US nuclear industry to engage global markets.
