The US Department of Energy mismanaged a landmark nuclear project to construct the country’s first small modular reactor (SMR), according to an audit by DOE’s Office of Inspector General released on 31 March.

The Carbon Free Power Project was a partnership between the federal government, NuScale Power and a coalition of Utah utilities that included $1.36bn (€1.18bn) in DOE cost-share financial assistance.

The government grant would help fund construction of the company’s first units at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The plan was for a 462-MW demonstration facility at INL with six units of 77 MW each.

The project was launched in 2015 was ultimately cancelled in 2023 after NuScale and the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems mutually agreed to terminate development of the plant.