DP World has launched a feasibility study into the potential use of small modular reactor (SMR) technology at the Port of Constanța in Romania.
The study will be conducted in partnership with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the TerraWater Institute. According to DP World, it will assess the technical and economic feasibility of using SMRs and other low-carbon energy solutions to meet the port's projected energy requirements between 2030 and 2050.
The assessment will examine future energy demand at the port and evaluate possible energy supply options, including nuclear technologies. It will also consider safety requirements, environmental factors and regulatory considerations.
The study forms part of the company's efforts to explore long-term energy solutions for its operations, according to DP World Europe CEO and managing director Nicolas Maes.
The Port of Constanța is the largest port on the Black Sea and serves as a major gateway for cargo moving between Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. DP World said the study did not represent a commitment to develop a nuclear facility but was intended to evaluate the potential role of SMRs within the port's future energy mix.
"Nuclear energy is increasingly being viewed across Europe as a resilient and cost-effective energy source capable of supporting supply chains," said Nicholas Mazzei, vice-president of sustainability at DP World Europe.
No timeline for completion of the study has been announced.
