DP World Explores Construction of a Small Modular Nuclear Reactor at the Port of Constanța

DP World has initiated an assessment of the potential deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at the Port of Constanța. If implemented, the initiative could enable the largest port in the Black Sea region to generate its own nuclear power for logistics and industrial operations.

According to industry sources, the company has signed a cooperation agreement with the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the TerraWater Institute. The partnership aims to conduct a feasibility study evaluating the technical and economic viability of deploying SMR technology within the port area.

The study will determine whether the project is commercially and technically feasible. In the future, the electricity generated by the reactor could be used to power container terminals, logistics facilities, data centers, and new industrial developments planned for the port.

Project partners have not yet disclosed which specific SMR technology will be considered. Among the potential options are the French NUWARD reactor and the American technology developed by NuScale Power, which Romania is already promoting as part of its national nuclear energy program.

In recent years, the Port of Constanța has strengthened its role as one of Europe’s key logistics hubs. Following the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the port has become a crucial gateway for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products and other cargo through the Black Sea and Danube transport corridors.

DP World operates the Constanța South Container Terminal (CSCT), the largest container terminal in the Black Sea region. The company is also implementing infrastructure modernization projects, electrification programs, and carbon emissions reduction initiatives as part of its long-term sustainability strategy.