Škoda JS secures exclusive contract for Rolls-Royce SMR reactor drives

Škoda JS, a subsidiary of the ČEZ Group, has secured an exclusive contract to design and supply control rod drives for Rolls-Royce SMR’s small modular reactors (SMRs). The agreement, valued at approximately 40 million euros (1 billion CZK) per instance, establishes the Czech company as the sole provider of this critical technology for the British firm’s reactors globally.

The control rod drives are essential components used to regulate reactor power. Škoda JS will be responsible for developing a prototype specifically for these small modular reactors before moving into mass production. This partnership follows a previous agreement in which Škoda JS was selected as a supplier for other key components, including reactor pressure vessels and primary circuit equipment.

Industry officials noted that the development of the global SMR supply chain presents a unique opportunity for Czech industrial firms to secure long-term contracts. The first small modular reactor in the Czech Republic is projected to be constructed at the Temelín Nuclear Power Station in the mid-to-late 2030s.