We need nuclear power because it is constantly available. It can ensure baseload power, has a very high level of efficiency – 95 percent and more. At the same time, it meets all green energy requirements.

Is constructing a small modular reactor in the region a goal that could help you expand?

The entire European market is quite promising for us. We commend Fermi Energia and Estonia for thinking about meeting future energy needs and climate targets. We believe nuclear energy will play an important role in diversifying power sources.

But not just in Europe – we also see great interest in Canada, United States, Southeast Asia. A lot of regions all over the world perceive nuclear energy as a way of meeting carbon reduction goals.

When could the first reactor become operational if the search for a possible location, planning and construction could begin immediately?

It is the task of the developer [Fermi Energia] to find and designate potential locations. I cannot say how long that could take in Estonia.

I can tell you we are looking for possibilities in the U.S. and Canada and expect to have the first operational module reactor up and running in 2027.

East Viru County would probably make the most sense as the location for the plant in Estonia. Could people who currently work for fossil fuel power plants find work at the nuclear plant?

There are quite a few transferable skills that are needed in both. Employees would definitely need nuclear engineering skills, while we plan to import this know-how to Estonia in cooperation with Fermi Energia.

How many jobs would such a plant create?

Once up and running, we expect it will need a staff of 75 because it is a small reactor. During construction, it could create hundreds of local jobs, also seasonal jobs tied to servicing the reactor when the plant needs new fuel or maintenance.

Estonia currently has no spent nuclear fuel repository. What should be done?

There are several solutions that have proved effective. In the United States, we use high-tech containers that will eventually be moved to a final repository. The French reuse nuclear fuel. This technology reduces the half life of reused nuclear fuel from 300,000 years to just 300 years. This translates into much less waste that needs to be stored.

Does this mean nuclear fuel is reusable or even a renewable source of power?

I’ve heard it called a nearly renewable energy source, even though that is not a term used officially. A light-water reactor uses very little nuclear fuel that it does not turn into waste as such.

This slightly used nuclear fuel could be reused if regulations permit that would help reduce quantities of nuclear waste to be stored.

Fermi Energia is also considering other technologies, a molten salt reactor for example. Which technology is better?

The main advantage of a molten salt reactor is that it allows for very high temperatures that is useful when producing hydrogen for example. Its disadvantage is that the technology has not been licensed yet.

Components and fuel need more work when it comes to molten salt reactors as they operate in corrosive conditions.