CONUAR participated in SMR & Advanced Reactor 2026, organized by Reuters Events Nuclear in Austin, Texas, one of the leading international forums focused on the future of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and advanced nuclear technologies.
The event brought together more than 750 leaders from the global nuclear ecosystem, including technology developers, utilities, regulators, EPCs, industrial suppliers, financial institutions and energy sector stakeholders, in a context of growing demand for reliable, low-carbon energy solutions.
A strategic forum for the next generation nuclear industry
The conference agenda focused on the major challenges associated with the development, financing, licensing, manufacturing and deployment of SMRs and advanced reactors.
Key topics included:
- Advanced reactor technologies and microreactors
- Nuclear licensing and regulatory frameworks
- Supply chain readiness and industrial infrastructure
- Manufacturability and constructability
- FOAK risk management
- Standardization and repeatability
Discussions emphasized the importance of transforming innovative reactor concepts into industrially deployable solutions capable of operating under real manufacturing and regulatory conditions.
Key challenges in SMR and advanced reactor deployment
One of the event’s central themes was the transition from conceptual reactor development to practical implementation.
Technical sessions such as “Technology Reality Check: From Design to Deployability” explored the real-world challenges facing technologies including:
- Light water reactors
- Molten salt reactors
- High-temperature gas-cooled reactors
- Microreactors
These discussions addressed critical deployment constraints related to supply chain capacity, skilled workforce availability and regulatory infrastructure.
A recurring message throughout the conference was that the viability of advanced reactors depends not only on reactor design maturity, but also on the ability to manufacture, inspect, qualify and document critical components according to nuclear industry requirements.
Nuclear supply chain and industrial readiness
The nuclear supply chain was one of the most important discussion topics during the event.
Speakers highlighted the need for:
- Qualified industrial suppliers
- Traceable manufacturing processes
- Available industrial capacity
- Robust technical documentation
- Proven experience in critical components manufacturing
Special attention was given to long-lead components, such as reactor pressure vessels, steam generators, large forgings and specialized materials, whose availability directly impacts nuclear project timelines.
The role of fuels and strategic materials—including HALEU, LEU+, TRISO fuel, nuclear graphite and advanced alloys—was also discussed as a key factor in scaling advanced reactor programs.
FOAK risk, scalability and repeatability
Another major focus was the management of FOAK (First of a Kind) risk, associated with the first deployment of emerging reactor technologies.
Participants discussed how to distribute technical, financial and regulatory risks among developers, operators, suppliers, investors and public institutions, while enabling the transition toward more repeatable and scalable NOAK (Nth of a Kind) deployment models.
In this context, standardization of designs, manufacturing processes and licensing criteria was identified as essential to improving predictability and reducing project uncertainty.
CONUAR’s role in the international nuclear ecosystem
For CONUAR, participating in forums such as SMR & Advanced Reactor 2026 represents an opportunity to strengthen international relationships, update strategic and technical knowledge, and evaluate future collaboration opportunities within the next-generation nuclear sector.
With more than 40 years of experience in the Argentine nuclear industry, CONUAR contributes capabilities in:
- Nuclear fuel manufacturing
- Critical components production
- Advanced alloy tubes
- Precision machining and specialized welding
- Non-destructive testing
- Nuclear quality assurance
These industrial capabilities provide a strong foundation for participating in the development of reliable global nuclear supply chains.
Argentine nuclear technology for global markets
CONUAR’s participation in SMR & Advanced Reactor 2026 is part of the company’s ongoing international engagement strategy, aimed at strengthening its presence in the spaces where the priorities of the next nuclear agenda are being defined.
From Argentina, CONUAR continues to contribute to technical and industrial exchange initiatives that promote collaboration, identify common challenges and support the development of reliable supply chains for highly complex nuclear projects.
Argentine nuclear technology for the world.
