Proactive Investors - Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LON:RR) boss Tufan Erginbilgic has not ruled out the possibility of the company building its first mini nuclear reactors overseas.
Citing concern over the sluggish pace of the UK’s small modular reactor (SMR) selection process, Erginbilgic told The Telegraph an initial rollout on the continent was possible.
Discussing where the first SMR will be built, he said: “We will do the right thing for Rolls-Royce, and that is an option available to us."
“My hope is that... we can build it in the UK," he added.
Regarding whether Europe could see the technology before the UK, he said: “I would not rule out what you have just said”.
SMR technology, which is hoped to be cheaper and quicker to build than conventional reactors, is being spearheaded by Rolls-Royce in the UK.
Just three companies have submitted SMR designs for regulatory assessment in the UK so far, with Rolls-Royce ahead of Hitachi and Holtec in the process.
Under the new government body Great British Nuclear (GBN), the rollout of SMRs will be partly publicly funded and is expected from the early 2030s.
“I have always said I am not lobbying to actually be selected,” Erginbilgic added, “on merit, we are going to be selected because we are ahead of everyone else".
“What I am worried about is the pace of the GBN process. I am concerned that they must deliver what they said and stick to the timetable.
“So as long as that happens then it is fine. But we are also looking at other options because some European countries are very attracted to what we are doing and we are in very serious discussions with some of them.”