The Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, state utility CEZ and Rolls-Royce SMR have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin preparatory activities for small modular reactors at two additional sites: Tusimice in the Usti nad Labem region and Detmarovice in the Moravian-Silesian region, both former coal-fired power plant locations. World Nuclear News reported the deal on July 21, 2026, expanding a Czech SMR plan that already includes a first unit at the Temelin nuclear site in South Bohemia.
Three sites, six reactors, 3 GW of factory-built nuclear
Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Chris Cholerton said the trio of sites now gives the UK company "a route to delivering at least six Rolls-Royce SMRs, as we lay the foundations for 3 GW of clean, secure electricity in Czechia." The 470 MWe pressurised-water design is about 90% factory-built, with modules of roughly 16 m by 4 m shipped to site for assembly, cutting build risk and schedule against conventional gigawatt-scale plants and pointing at a 60-year operating life.
Czech supply chain moves in
CEZ board member Tomas Pleskac highlighted that Plzen-based Skoda JS is one of two selected suppliers of nuclear-island components for the Rolls-Royce SMR, calling SMRs "a global opportunity for Czech industry." The Czech ministry sees ageing coal plants as especially suited for SMRs because the units can supply both electricity and district heat to surrounding cities. CEZ, which took a 20% stake in Rolls-Royce SMR in October 2024, now backs a domestic industrial ramp that layers onto the Dukovany APR-1000 build already contracted with KHNP.
What this means for the SMR race
Central Europe is emerging as one of the biggest single markets for factory-built nuclear. The Czech move follows the UK selecting Rolls-Royce SMR in June 2025 as its preferred technology for the country's first SMR project, with a final investment decision expected in 2029, and Sweden's earlier selection for a Vattenfall project. It also lands as European utilities court multiple SMR vendors, with GBE Nuclear tendering a $1.08 billion delivery-partner slot for Wylfa, as covered in our earlier report, and rivals such as NuScale locking in Doosan Enerbility supply. Rolls-Royce SMR is separately building its Pioneer Works factory in Derby and has also placed reactor pressure vessel work with Skoda JS and Doosan.
Reporting based on coverage from World Nuclear News, Enlit World, Nucnet and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade.