SMR sector sees NuScale stock plunge as UK launches £1bn procurement

NuScale Power Corp., the only U.S. company with an NRC‑approved small modular reactor (SMR) design, saw its shares drop about 15% after reporting a first‑quarter net loss of $78.3 million and noting project delays that leave the firm without a firm customer agreement. The company’s cash on hand fell to $125 million, giving it less than two years of runway at the current burn rate. Management said it expects to secure a binding contract within the next year, but investors remain wary.

Meanwhile, Great British Energy – Nuclear is seeking a delivery partner for a £1.08 billion procurement contract to support its SMR programme, which has a £2.6 billion budget and aims to deliver a new nuclear plant by the mid‑2030s. Tenders must be submitted by 6 August 2026, with the contract potentially running until 2046. The partnership will provide programme management, engineering, and risk‑management expertise, building on prior collaboration with Rolls‑Royce on reactor design. Both developments highlight the growing commercial focus and financing challenges in the global SMR market.