A company which believes “the time is right” for Norway to return to nuclear power has signed agreements with three municipalities to investigate the construction of small modular reactors.

Bergen-based Norsk Kjernekraft, part of the M Vestt energy gas and oil group, said the agreements were with the municipalities of Aure, northern Norway, Heim in central-west Norway and Narvik, also in northern Norway.

Norsk Kjernekraft, founded in 2022 with the aim of building and operating SMRs, said it will work with the three municipalities to investigate the technical, financial and safety aspects of building one or more small modular reactors in their area.