Rolls-Royce shortlisted as UK seeks small nuclear plant developers

Rolls-Royce SMR has passed the first stage of a UK government competition to select developers of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), the company said on Monday, signalling a huge step for the technology as Britain seeks to boost its energy capacity. Rolls-Royce, whose main business is making engines for large passenger jets, is the only company whose SMR technology is under review by European regulators. "Securing a domestic contract is vitally important to unlock the enormous global export potential of our clean energy technology," Rolls-Royce SMR CEO Chris Cholerton said in a statement.