SMRs offer 30–300 MWe capacity, $2 billion entry costs, and 24–36 month deployment, but only two commercial units exist globally and first US deployment is expected in 2028.
Key obstacles include first-mover risks, cost overruns, Russian HALEU fuel dependency, and novel waste disposal issues. Countries with nuclear readiness should pool procurement and prioritize light-water SMRs to minimize risks.
Less-ready nations are advised to focus on regulatory and workforce development before committing. Transparent vendor selection and learning from early adopters are essential for successful SMR adoption in emerging markets.
Will critical mineral shortages, not fuel, become the biggest obstacle for SMRs?
Could Russia use its dominance in spent-fuel reprocessing as a future geopolitical weapon?
Do advanced SMRs solve the nuclear waste problem or just create a new one?
As big tech buys SMR power, will smaller nations be priced out of the market?
Are massive SMR subsidies a better climate investment than renewables and grid upgrades?
Can the new US HALEU supply chain meet AI's massive energy demand before 2030?