FIRST International Programme to Support Small Modular Reactors

The Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) programme, launched by the US Department of State in 2021, has been running for two years so far.

The programme was designed specifically to support countries considering the use of SMRs or other advanced reactors in achieving zero carbon emissions to mitigate climate change. This innovative technology offers great advantages, including lower cost, manoeuvrability and scalability, small size and thus the possibility of deployment in remote locations and partnering with other renewable energy sources. Small modular reactors can also be applied in industrial processes, for desalination, district  heating and hydrogen production.

Thus, FIRST involves early dialogue between U.S. experts and the interested partner country through trainings, seminars, webinars, and organised study tours, allowing partner countries to share their plans for building nuclear energy capacity. FIRST is tailored to the partner country’s specific needs through a joint training programme consisting of ten modules:

  1. Nuclear power as part of the energy mix
  2. Engaging with stakeholders as a way to achieve success
  3. Workforce development
  4. Site selection and initial works for the construction of the SMR
  5. Nuclear safety and approaches to SMR licensing
  6. Technology selection
  7. SMR funding and localisation (prioritising support for local supply chains and jobs)
  8. Physical security             
  9. Non-proliferation
  10. Spent nuclear fuel management

More than 20 countries have already joined the international programme to support small modular reactors, including Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Kazakhstan.

Projects created under the FIRST:

NEXT  (Nuclear Expediting the Energy Transition Support) – aims to support small modular reactor design to bridge the gap between capacity building and reactor deployment.

The programme will provide countries that decide to commission a specific reactor design with a set of advanced project preparation tools, including financial, regulatory, technical advisory and consulting services, SMR feasibility and site characterisation studies, front-end engineering and design (pre-construction survey), SMR simulators, training centres and academic partnership.

Initial funding and the first group of NEXT countries will be announced this year.

WECAN (Winning an Edge through Cooperation in Advanced Nuclear) is to deepen cooperation with Japan to support the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in third countries, in line with the IAEA’s nuclear energy infrastructure development stages, and to achieve the goal of zero emissions.

The first step towards enhancing cooperation under WECAN was the partnership with Ghana, which the United States and Japan announced at the IAEA Ministerial in Washington DC in October 2022. This will enable Ghana to be a first mover in SMR deployment in Africa and establish itself as an advanced nuclear technology hub. WECAN’s support can include prerequisite technical and regulatory assistance, as well as a feasibility studies for the potential deployment of the NuScale VOYGR SMR, including an assessment of existing infrastructure as well as assessment of supply chain opportunities in the Ghanaian market.

Project Phoenix aims to accelerate the conversion of decommissioned (or soon to be decommissioned) coal-fired power plants to new SMR-based nuclear power generation capacity, while preserving local jobs through retraining.

As part of this initiative, an annual workshop on the conversion of coal power plants to small modular reactors is to be arranged, open to all countries in the region, to foster an open dialogue, share lessons learned and bring developers and suppliers together. There are plans to conduct feasibility studies, research and evaluation of coal power plant sites that are to be retrofitted with SMRs. Additionally, the project will provide advisory support on such issues as workforce development for retraining of coal plant operators, establishment of SMR regulations, SMR licensing, financing and related technical assistance.

Through these efforts, the initiative aims to pave the way for an accelerated global transition away from fossil fuels and toward a cleaner and more secure energy supply consistent with the highest standards of nuclear security.