Computer generated image of how one of Last Energy’s SMRs could look in Romania.

Last Energy, a US-based developer of micro-nuclear technology, has officially entered the nuclear site licensing process in the UK for its plans to build four 20MWe microreactors in South Wales. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UK's nuclear regulator, confirmed this on January 1, 2025, following seven months of early engagement with Last Energy. Additionally, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) issued a $103.7 million letter of intent to finance the end-to-end delivery of the company's first microreactor in South Wales. Last Energy has also obtained site control and accepted a grid connection offer for 22MW of export capacity from National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED). The company aims to deliver its first microreactor in Wales in 2027, pending licensing, permitting, and planning processes. This announcement comes after a series of policy reforms introduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to streamline nuclear planning and accelerate deployment in the UK, making it easier to deploy micro-nuclear plants anywhere across England and Wales. Last Energy's South Wales project is the first new site for a commercial nuclear power reactor to enter licensing since the Torness Nuclear Power Station in Scotland in 1978.