Prepare Bid / Contract specifications

Key challenges

Managing the risks

The risks related to a newbuild project are considerable and can materialize in delays and cost overruns. However, these risks can be identified and mitigated. It is important to consider them already in the drafting of the bid/contract specifications. This can be a challenge particularly for newcomers with limited experience from newbuild projects.

The traditional approach for contracting a nuclear power plant is based on a large set of complex, country-specific requirements set by the regulator. This may no longer be the most recommended approach. In order to keep cost and risk levels manageable, SMRs and Gen III/III+ nuclear reactors will need to be based on standard designs as far as possible. Still, operation and maintenance related requirements will need to be taken into account and set by the Owner-Operator, considering that the reactors may operate 60+ years.

Dialogue with plant vendors and regulators

In the evolving regulatory environment typical in a newcomer country and when introducing nuclear as a new technology, dialogue with plant vendors and regulatory bodies well before releasing the Request for Proposal is essential. The Owner-Operator will need to ensure that the standard design is mature enough and can be licensed. If the design cannot be licensed as such, the extent of the needed modifications will need to be understood, considering also site and environmental conditions and availability of the related data.