Archive · 24 Sep 2026
US, Japan and South Korea Plan Global SMR Expansion
The United States, Japan and South Korea made a plan to help more countries build small modular nuclear reactors.
These reactors are smaller than many traditional nuclear plants.
The plan is meant to help meet rising demand for electricity around the world.
It follows an agreement the three countries signed in Ankara on July 7.
Companies from the United States, Japan, South Korea and Poland also agreed to cooperate on a reactor called the BWRX-300.
They want to build these reactors in Europe.
The project could support reliable electricity for millions of people and more than $150 billion in investments.
The governments said safety, security and preventing the spread of nuclear technology would remain important.
The United States, Japan and South Korea established an Implementation Plan supporting small modular reactor deployments in other countries.
The plan builds on a Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the three countries in Ankara on July 7.
GE Vernova, Hitachi, Samsung C&T and Poland’s SGE signed an industry framework to advance BWRX-300 reactors across Europe.
The consortium aims to provide reliable baseload nuclear power and encourage more than $150 billion in reactor investments.
The governments said the initiative supports energy security, growing global energy demand, and nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation standards.
- Who
- The United States, Japan and South Korea, along with GE Vernova, Hitachi, Samsung C&T and Poland’s SGE.
- What
- They established a government implementation plan and an industry cooperation framework to accelerate small modular reactor deployment.
- When
- The announcement was made on Wednesday at the margins of the United Nations General Assembly; the underlying memorandum was signed on July 7.
- Where
- The announcement took place in New York, while the memorandum was signed in Ankara and the industry effort targets Europe.
- Why
- The participants aim to meet growing energy demand, strengthen mutual security interests, provide reliable baseload power and expand nuclear investment.
- Participating governments
- United States, Japan and South Korea
- Reactor technology
- BWRX-300 small modular reactor
- European industry participants
- GE Vernova, Hitachi, Samsung C&T and SGE
- Potential investment
- More than USD 150 billion in reactor investments
- Intended reach
- Small modular reactor deployments in other countries and across Europe
- Stated priorities
- Energy security, nuclear safety, security and nonproliferation
- Announcement setting
- Trilateral Ministerial meeting on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York