Fermi Energia and Samsung C&T are working together to develop a plan for the construction of a nuclear power plant of up to 600 megawatts. Fermi Energia CEO Kalev Kallemets emphasized that preparation is crucial. He said that Samsung needs to assess the capabilities and prices of various contractors.
Samsung is also evaluating the locations for the reactors. The company must decide where the construction will take place and how workers and materials will be delivered. Fermi Energia and Samsung signed the agreement in South Korea.
Kallemets predicts that two small reactors could be ready in ten years. He said that if all plans work out, construction could start in 2031 and be completed by the end of 2035.
Kallemets emphasized that Estonia needs its own nuclear reactors. This will help save money and not depend on neighboring countries. He mentioned that in Finland, electricity is always cheap thanks to nuclear power plants. Currently, electricity production in Estonia is dependent on fossil fuels, but this must change in the future.
The agreement with Samsung is important because Americans and Koreans have not often worked together before. Kallemets said they convinced Samsung to be the right partner. Samsung has built seven nuclear power plants and is currently building three more. The reactor mentioned in the agreement, BWRX-300, is a Hitachi boiling water reactor type, which will be built first in Canada.