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Studsvik, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Samsung C&T announced an agreement on September 3 to advance Sweden’s ReFirm programme. GE Vernova Financial Services and DS Investment Partners are also involved in development, financing and advisory work. The agreement is exclusive for a fixed period, which the parties may extend.
The initial project envisages four BWRX-300 small modular reactors with approximately 1.2 gigawatts of combined capacity. Candidate sites are Studsvik’s existing licensed facility in Nyköping and the Målma site in Valdemarsvik. An application for Valdemarsvik was submitted in March 2026. The first project location will be selected during development.
The first unit is targeted to enter operation in the mid-2030s. The agreement is not a final investment decision or construction authorization. During the exclusivity period, the parties will begin commercial, technical, regulatory and financing work. The phased four-unit approach is intended to support standardization and apply lessons from early deployment to later units.
Under the announced role split, Studsvik leads permitting, environmental assessment, site rights and community engagement. GE Vernova Hitachi leads reactor engineering, licensing support and cost estimation, and joins Samsung C&T in the execution team. A project company is planned, with ownership and operating details still subject to definitive agreements.
Legislation in force in Sweden since 2026 allows reactors beyond the three existing nuclear sites, with government approval required for each facility. The state framework includes loans and contracts for difference. This policy context provides a route for development; it does not mean ReFirm financing has been approved or construction has begun.