Viaro Energy and Terrestrial Energy Collaborate on Nuclear Project in the UK

Key Partnership Announcement
Viaro Energy, a British energy company, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US-based Terrestrial Energy to jointly develop an integral molten salt reactor (IMSR) nuclear project in the UK. This collaboration marks a significant step toward advancing nuclear technology for a variety of applications, particularly in industries that are currently reliant on fossil fuels.

Targeting Sustainable Energy Solutions
The IMSR technology aims to provide a scalable, carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels, addressing the energy demands of sectors like artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. Viaro Energy’s CEO, Francesco Mazzagatti, highlighted the potential of nuclear energy as a stable solution for climate change, stating that Terrestrial Energy has successfully navigated many of the supply chain challenges faced by other companies in the sector.

Project Development and Joint Venture Formation
The two companies will focus on assessing site viability, regulatory requirements, and broader economic and policy conditions for the proposed IMSR plant. Upon completion of these evaluations, they will identify potential locations for the facility. A joint venture (JV) is planned, with Viaro Energy handling infrastructure and investment while Terrestrial Energy leads the development of nuclear technology.

Job Creation and Future Prospects
Once operational, the IMSR plant is expected to create over 120 permanent jobs and numerous roles in construction and supply chains. Terrestrial Energy’s CEO, Simon Irish, expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to benchmark the IMSR plant’s capabilities for various applications and locations.

Recent Developments
In August of last year, Terrestrial Energy collaborated with Westinghouse subsidiary Springfields Fuels to design and construct an IMSR fuel pilot plant at the Springfields nuclear fuel manufacturing site in Preston, England.