The construction of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) is set to transform South Bohemia’s job market, with projections indicating up to 3,000 highly skilled positions to be created in the region. This ambitious project, spearheaded by ČEZ in partnership with Rolls-Royce SMR Limited, promises to be a significant catalyst for regional development.
Martin Kuba, the Governor of the South Bohemian Region, shared insights following Wednesday’s meeting with ČEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR representatives. “This project represents an enormous opportunity for our region’s development. We possess strategic land parcels suitable for the project, including areas near the airport where we envision establishing a planned science and research park,” Kuba explained.
Daniel Beneš, CEO of ČEZ, outlined the project’s timeline, indicating that the first modular reactor is expected to be operational at Temelín in the early 2030s. The site has been identified as the optimal location for this pilot project, which will run parallel to the construction of two additional nuclear units linked to the Dukovany expansion project.
Each Rolls-Royce SMR power plant will generate 470 MWe of electricity, sufficient to power one million households for at least 60 years. This strategic partnership, announced in late October, marks a significant step forward in the Czech Republic’s nuclear energy program.