Competition in the nuclear industry – including from China and Russia – is leading to more choice in terms of reactor technology, but financing and contract terms are often the determining issue for many customers, with small modular reactors attracting attention because of their affordability, Nuclear Energy Agency Director-General William Magwood told NucNet.

Mr Magwood, who has been Director-General of the Paris-based agency since 2014, said building large nuclear plants can be expensive and customers need to find a way to finance projects. “And that’s something that all suppliers have to take into account,” he said.