Amentum, a nuclear engineering specialist based in Virginia, USA, and Multiconsult Norge have been selected by Halden Kjernekraft to evaluate the potential for building a small modular reactor in Norway, to help Halden municipality to decide whether nuclear power can meet advanced energy needs.

The two companies will carry out an assessment of potential suppliers of equipment and services within Norway and from abroad, as well as reporting on technical standards, environmental impact and other key aspects of any construction programme.

Halden Kjernekraft was set up by Norsk Kjernekraft, Østfold Energi and the municipality of Halden, a town in southeast Norway close to the Swedish border, to investigate the construction of a nuclear power plant using SMR technology. “Working with Multiconsult, we will draw on our extensive knowledge of SMR technology and nuclear supply chains to provide an objective, factual review and assist the municipality of Halden in making a well-informed decision as to whether nuclear power can contribute to solving its future energy needs,” said Andy White, Amentum senior VP, Energy & Environment International.

Amentum and Multiconsult are currently carrying out engineering concept design and planning work for the decommissioning of a nuclear fuel and materials testing reactor in Halden, which was operated by Norway’s Institute for Energy Technology.