NICE Future to Host Webinar on Commercializing Small Modular Reactors

The NICE Future initiative will host its next advanced nuclear webinar titled “Commercializing SMRs: Industry Perspectives on Advanced Nuclear” on 22 July 2026.

The webinar will bring together leading voices from across the nuclear industry to discuss how small modular reactor technologies are moving from innovative designs toward real-world deployment. The session is expected to provide industry perspectives on the commercialization of SMRs, the role of advanced nuclear technologies in clean energy systems, and the practical steps needed to move from concept to deployment.

Small modular reactors are attracting growing global attention because of their potential to support clean energy transitions, strengthen energy security, provide reliable baseload power, and serve industrial applications that require dependable low-carbon energy. For African countries exploring nuclear energy options, discussions around SMR commercialization are particularly relevant as governments, utilities, regulators, and policy institutions assess future pathways for nuclear power deployment.

The webinar will feature senior speakers from the U.S. Department of Energy and major advanced nuclear technology companies.

Speakers include:

• Aleshia Duncan, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
• Dr. Edward Blandford, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Kairos Power
• Hon. Roger Martella, Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Sustainability Officer, GE Vernova
• Dr. Jose Reyes, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, NuScale Power
• Dr. Lou Martinez Sancho, Chief Technology Officer, Westinghouse Electric Company

For Africa, the webinar provides an opportunity to follow how leading technology vendors and policy actors are approaching the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies. As countries across the continent examine nuclear power as part of long-term energy planning, understanding the commercial, regulatory, financing, and deployment realities of SMRs will be critical.

Event at a Glance

Event: Commercializing SMRs: Industry Perspectives on Advanced Nuclear
Host: NICE Future initiative
Date: 22 July 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. EDT | 1:00 p.m. UTC | 1:00 p.m. Ghana Time | 8:00 p.m. ICT
Format: Webinar
Focus: Small modular reactors, advanced nuclear technologies, commercialization, and deployment
Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/g6kNTKGr

Nuclear Africa encourages policymakers, regulators, researchers, students, utilities, energy planners, and nuclear professionals across the continent to participate in this webinar and follow ongoing global conversations on the future of advanced nuclear energy.