Project Highlights
- The technical advisory services provided key information used to support Estonia’s Nuclear Energy and Safety Act to create a framework for SMR construction and operation.
Description
Estonia is considering nuclear power in its national plans for energy generation. Under the U.S. Department of State’s FIRST program, Sargent & Lundy provided technical advisory services focused on establishing the country’s nuclear power regulatory agency. This included research needed to establish the agency’s foundation, such as required independence, recommended staffing levels, and base knowledge for the proposed agency’s future workforce. The information was used by Estonian lawmakers to develop and successfully pass the country’s Nuclear Energy and Safety Act in June 2026. The law establishes a legal framework for the future civil nuclear power regulatory agency.
Project Scope
The firm provided technical reports supporting the establishment of a nuclear regulatory agency to oversee national policy development and standards for nuclear power plant construction in Estonia. Sargent & Lundy provided additional support to other government ministries on related topics, including power grid integration, site selection, and evaluation best practices. Based on information from the International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Electric Power Research Institute, and other well-regarded sources, the reports covered:
- Regulatory independence, staffing, and overarching policy structures.
- Options for long-term storage of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
- Security of nuclear power plant sites.
- Financial considerations, such as the overnight costs, and nuclear power plant construction funding and financing options.
- Building stakeholder engagement through strong public communications channels.
- Evaluating and expanding national plans to construct and operate an SMR.
