The Role of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors in Greece: Energy Security, Regulatory Challenges, and Commercial Applications

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) can provide adequate power, stability and security in the energy grid, reducing the dependency on fossil fuels. This is the major advantage of nuclear energy, the use of which is rapidly gaining ground on international fora. Issues of micro nuclear reactors and the regulatory process of how a country could create a nuclear program and develop it, were also a part of the discussion. The issue was discussed in depth during the conference on “The Exploitation of Nuclear Energy in Greece” organized by the Foreign Affairs Institute under the presidency of Loukas Katsonis. Numerous participants, including General Secretary for Research and Innovation Tasos Gaitanis, PhD elaborated on the possibility and advantages of introducing SMRs in Greece as well as the necessary framework in order to move towards the “nuclear era”. Thomas Lamnidis from LAMNIDIS LAW shared insights and views with Dr. Christos Chousiadas, President of EEAE, George Christidis, Vice President Government Relations and International Affairs, Canadian Nuclear Association, George Borovas, Head of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Nuclear practice, Tokyo office Managing Partner, Ariel (Eli) Levite, nonresident senior fellow, Carnegie Endowment, Nuclear Policy Program and Technology, Dr, Alexandros Chroneos, Professor in Computational modelling, University of Thessaly, Dr. Nikolaos Petropoulos, Associate Professor, Nuclear Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Dr. Antonis Mylonakis, Nuclear Engineer and Charilaos Petrakakos, P&P Marine Consultants, Chairman of Panel M48 Nuclear Power in Commercial Shipping, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers while moderating two high profile discussions during the event. The panels focused on legal aspects in the regulatory framework as well as possible commercial utilizations of nuclear technology through long-term financial contracts.