Romania's Doicești SMR project faces scrutiny over cost and governance

Doicești SMR Nuclearelectrica Nova Power & Gas cost overrun

A control report issued by the Prime Minister’s Control Body on 27 July 2026 highlighted serious irregularities in the Doicești small modular reactor (SMR) project. The report said Nova Power & Gas bought 52 hectares for about €2.8 million in December 2021, then transferred the land to the joint venture RoPower for €46.39 million in June 2025 – a 16‑fold increase that lacked economic justification. It also pointed to weak corporate governance, opaque contract structures and a disproportionate financial risk for the state nuclear operator Nuclearelectrica.

Nuclearelectrica rejected the report’s conclusions, arguing that all decisions complied with the law, that a roughly 20‑month schedule delay was within the original estimate, and that Nova Power & Gas was chosen because it owned the site. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan publicly criticised the project as a waste of resources, noting €240 million spent for only land and paperwork. Nova Power & Gas responded that its participation in RoPower is temporary and that the land, originally acquired for about €6 million in 2021, was sold to RoPower for €24 million in 2025, describing the price difference as a normal commercial transaction.

Entities: Doicești · Ilie Bolojan · Nova Power & Gas · Nuclearelectrica · RoPower Nuclear SA

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The Prime Minister’s Control Body released a report on 27 July 2026 about the Doicești SMR project. (report published on 27 July 2026)
[● 2 SOURCES] The land was transferred to the joint venture RoPower for €46.39 million in June 2025, comprising €24.34 million sale price and €22.05 million refacturing payment. (control report financial details)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan criticized the project, saying Nuclearelectrica spent $240 million and will be left with only land and paperwork. (public interview)
[● 2 SOURCES] The control report identified governance and financial risk issues, including lack of transparency and overpayment for land. (report findings)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Nuclearelectrica claims the project has a delay of about 20 months, which does not breach any mandatory deadline. (company statement)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Nova Power & Gas paid approximately €2.8 million for 52 hectares of land in December 2021 for the Doicești project. (financial data from control report)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The transfer price was about 16 times higher than the original purchase price. (analysis in control report)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Nova Power & Gas says its role in RoPower is intended to be temporary and it will withdraw before construction starts. (company response)