Ukraine prepares legal framework to accelerate small modular reactor deployment
A roadmap under development aims to establish regulatory and technical foundations for the deployment of small modular reactors, with the goal of strengthening national energy security and attracting private capital.
| Sectors | Nuclear Energy, SMR |
|---|---|
| Themes | Regulation & Governance, Public Policy |
| Companies | Energoatom, Holtec International |
| Countries | France, United Kingdom, Ukraine, United States |
The Ukrainian government has launched the development of a roadmap for the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), supported by a draft law submitted to Parliament. The plan aims to create an institutional and technical foundation to facilitate the implementation of the first units, aligned with the country’s energy targets through 2050.
A framework to encourage private investment
The legislative proposal, presented to the Verkhovna Rada, seeks to streamline design and construction procedures for SMRs while removing obstacles to private investment. The draft law would allow private ownership of nuclear fuel used in SMRs while maintaining state control over radioactive waste management. The current regime, which limits investors’ property rights, is identified as a major barrier to attracting external capital.
In parallel, the roadmap proposes abolishing the requirement to submit three alternative sites for SMR projects and would allow private operators to choose certified technologies, provided they are approved by the national nuclear regulatory authority. Next steps include harmonising the regulatory framework with global best practices and implementing targeted financing mechanisms.
International cooperation and industrial ambitions
The initiative is supported by international partners, with experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the European Union attending a recent parliamentary session on the topic. Ukrainian state enterprise Energoatom and U.S.-based Holtec International have already signed an agreement to jointly develop up to 20 SMRs, including plans to establish a local manufacturing facility for SMR components.
The project is part of a broader strategy to modernise Ukraine’s nuclear fleet—one of the largest in Europe—and deepen its integration with the European energy market. Feasibility studies are also underway through cooperation with the U.S. FIRST (Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology) Program to assess SMR suitability on decommissioned thermal power plant sites and within energy-intensive industrial zones.
