Finnish nuclear startup Steady Energy has signed a contract for Belgian engineering company Tractebel to help with the design and licensing of its LDR-50 small modular reactor (SMR) aimed at providing clean district heating and industrial steam.

Steady Energy said in a statement that Tractebel will help with a probabilistic safety assessment of the LDR-50 reactor and provide support in establishing a severe accident management programme.

The Finnish company said its reactor design is currently being assessed by the Finnish radiation and nuclear safety authority Stuk. The contract with Tractebel is expected to speed up the permitting process.