Japan Atomic Industrial Forum Chairman: Overseas SMR Projects Help Sustain Supply Chain, but Japan Still Needs to Build New Nuclear Plants

Hideki Masui, Chairman of the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF), stated on May 31 that Japanese companies are playing a significant role in global small modular reactor (SMR) projects through design and equipment supply, but the long-term maintenance and development of Japan's nuclear technology base ultimately requires the construction of new nuclear power plants domestically.

At a regular press conference, Masui reviewed international developments in the SMR field. He noted that approximately 30 countries currently use nuclear energy, and about 20 countries are studying the deployment of SMRs in some form. Projects involving Japanese companies include GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 and NuScale Power's VOYGR SMR, which are being considered or deployed in multiple countries. Japan is also participating in a project led by Holtec International, with Japanese companies contributing through engineering services and the supply of equipment and materials.

Masui explained the importance of overseas SMR projects from short-term, medium-term, and long-term perspectives. In the short term, overseas SMR construction can create opportunities for Japanese manufacturers to supply components and equipment, helping to maintain the domestic nuclear supply chain. Taking the BWRX-300 as an example, if large-scale investment proceeds as expected, Japanese industry will gain considerable economic benefits. In the long term, the successful deployment of SMRs overseas could pave the way for Japan to adopt the technology domestically.

However, Masui also warned that overseas projects alone are insufficient to sustain Japan's nuclear technology base indefinitely, and the continued development of the nuclear industry requires the construction of new nuclear power plants in Japan, including replacement projects. He also emphasized that the government must clearly communicate its long-term vision for nuclear energy, including the scale of nuclear power needed in the future, which would not only demonstrate the nation's firm commitment to nuclear power but also provide a clearer outlook for future investment and talent development in the industry.