Lithuania Eyes Nuclear Comeback with Italian SMR Partner

On Thursday (24 September), Energy Minister Žygimantas VaičiÅ«nas said that Vilnius will cooperate with Italy’s Newcleo, which specialises in the applications of advanced small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

VaičiÅ«nas said that a memorandum of cooperation between Lithuania and the US would be signed shortly to identify areas of cooperation. “Newcleo is interesting to us because of their development of fourth-generation small nuclear reactors,” he said.

“There are pilot projects and specific developments that show this could be promising technology. We follow the concept that all technologies hould be assessed.”

Seeking Energy Independence and New Solutions
The action comes as Lithuania tries to increase its energy independence and meet rising demand for electricity. A special working group was established recently to consider the country’s nuclear potential in the framework of the long-term energy strategy of Ukraine.

Lithuania shut down its previous nuclear power station, at Ignalina, in late 2009. The Soviet-​era plant with two RBMK reactors like the ones in the Chernobyl disaster sparked sharp warnings from European Union countries about safety. The plant’s closure was an agreement Lithuania made on entering the European Union.

Nuclear in Europe’s Energy Mix
At present, twelve EU Member States have nuclear power stations in operation. By 2023, nuclear energy had generated 22.8% of the EU’s electricity, according to data from Eurostat.

In the region, Poland plans to build its first nuclear reactor with an American partner along the Baltic coast, with construction planned to start in 2028. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has even reportedly supported SMR technology as the path for the country’s future energy plans.

With this plan, Lithuania joins other countries rethinking nuclear power as a cleaner and more reliable form of energy, as the demand for energy changes around the world.