• ENEC and GE Vernova Hitachi signed a new memorandum of understanding to evaluate international deployment of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor technology
• The agreement expands collaboration first launched during COP28 in Dubai in 2023 under ENEC’s ADVANCE program
• The companies will jointly assess development pathways including licensing, investment strategies, supply chain readiness, and site selection
• The initiative reflects growing global demand for reliable, low-carbon electricity, particularly from AI and technology-driven industries

ABU DHABI, UAE (May 27, 2025) – The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GVH) announced the signing of a new memorandum of understanding during the World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi. The agreement focuses on jointly evaluating opportunities for the international deployment of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

The new memorandum builds on a previous agreement signed during COP28 in Dubai in 2023, when the two organizations began cooperating under ENEC’s ADVANCE program, an initiative focused on accelerating the evaluation and potential deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.

The signing ceremony took place during a private event at the World Utilities Congress. The agreement was formally exchanged by His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of ENEC, and Maví Zingoni, CEO of GE Vernova’s Power segment.

Under the terms of the memorandum, both organizations will collaborate on the development of a comprehensive deployment roadmap. Areas of focus include identifying suitable sites, evaluating regulatory and licensing pathways, supporting commercialization and investment planning, and strengthening supply chain capabilities.

Mohamed Al Hammadi stated that the agreement represents the next phase of cooperation between ENEC and GE Vernova Hitachi as the UAE continues advancing civil nuclear energy development domestically and internationally. He noted that combining operational expertise with advanced reactor technology development can help establish safe, efficient, and scalable nuclear deployment models capable of meeting rising global electricity demand in a sustainable manner.

Maví Zingoni said that small modular reactors are expected to play a major role in strengthening future energy security and supporting lower-carbon electricity systems. She added that expanding collaboration with ENEC reinforces GE Vernova Hitachi’s relationship with the UAE while supporting broader international deployment efforts for the BWRX-300 technology.

ENEC brings substantial operational and project execution experience through its role as developer and operator of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi. The four-unit nuclear facility currently supplies approximately 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs and was brought online over a highly efficient development timeline of less than eight years per unit. ENEC also operates in alignment with international nuclear safety and operational standards through its membership in the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) Atlanta Center.

GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy, through the long-standing alliance between GE Vernova and Hitachi, develops advanced nuclear technologies including boiling water reactors and the BWRX-300 small modular reactor platform. The BWRX-300 is designed as a simplified and scalable reactor solution intended to improve deployment efficiency and operational economics.

Recent milestones have strengthened momentum for the technology. Earlier in May 2025, Ontario Power Generation and the Province of Ontario approved construction of the first BWRX-300 unit at the Darlington nuclear site in Canada. Shortly afterward, the Tennessee Valley Authority submitted a construction permit application for the first BWRX-300 deployment in the United States. These projects are expected to make the BWRX-300 the first SMR technology deployed commercially in the Western world.

Engineering and technology development for the reactor platform is led from GE Vernova Hitachi’s nuclear headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina.

As part of the next phase of collaboration, technical teams from ENEC and GE Vernova Hitachi will jointly evaluate deployment strategies for the BWRX-300 under the ADVANCE program framework. ENEC continues exploring investment, partnership, and deployment opportunities both inside the UAE and internationally to expand access to clean baseload nuclear energy and strengthen long-term energy security.

About the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC), part of ADQ, was established in 2009 to oversee the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program. ENEC leads development and operation of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which currently generates approximately 40 terawatt-hours of electricity annually while avoiding more than 22 million tons of carbon emissions each year.

In addition to managing Barakah operations, ENEC is pursuing opportunities in advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors and next-generation reactor systems, through its ADVANCE initiative.

About GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy

GE Vernova’s Nuclear Power business, through its alliance with Hitachi, is a global supplier of nuclear fuel, reactor technologies, engineering services, and advanced reactor designs. Its portfolio includes boiling water reactors and the BWRX-300 small modular reactor platform.

Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF), a GE Vernova-led joint venture with Hitachi, supplies boiling water reactor fuel and related engineering services through operations in the United States and Japan.

About GE Vernova

GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) is a global energy company focused on Power, Electrification, and Wind technologies. With operations in approximately 100 countries and around 85,000 employees worldwide, the company develops technologies designed to support electrification, grid reliability, and long-term decarbonization goals across the global energy sector.

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