The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has been selected to help develop a groundbreaking roadmap for Ukraine's steel industry, focusing on rebuilding and modernizing the sector through small modular reactor (SMR) technology.

The initiative, announced November 16 at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, falls under the Clean Steel Program in Ukraine—a component of the Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Program. FIRST, launched in 2019, is a multi-agency U.S. government initiative supporting countries exploring SMR and advanced nuclear technologies.

"ASME is honored to contribute to Ukraine's efforts to rebuild a more sustainable steel industry for the benefit of its people," said ASME Executive Director/CEO Tom Costabile. "Small modular reactors are an important part of the clean energy future, as well as an economic redevelopment opportunity for Ukraine."

The announcement was made by Ukrainian Minister of Energy German Galushchenko and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Bonnie Jenkins. Also present were U.S. Department of Energy Acting Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy Dr. Michael Goff, Ukrainian Ambassador to Azerbaijan H.E. Yuriy Husyef, Argonne National Laboratory Director Dr. Paul Kearns, and Electric Power Research Institute's Chief Nuclear Strategy Officer Neil Wilmshurst.

ASME will collaborate with three other implementers: the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (lead implementer), Argonne National Laboratory, and Hatch, a global engineering firm. Their collective goal is to create a comprehensive roadmap for integrating SMRs into Ukraine's steel manufacturing sector.

"ASME's nuclear component standards and certification programs provide a clear, uniform path for the design, construction, testing, inspection, and maintenance of nuclear power facilities," explained Chris Cantrell, managing director of standards and engineering services for ASME. "We look forward to partnering with Ukrainian stakeholders and the other implementers to develop this roadmap, which will offer support for Ukraine's and the region's decarbonization efforts."

ASME's specific responsibilities will include:

  • Providing an annotated outline of SMR-relevant standards and codes
  • Documenting processes for certification, accreditation, and training programs
  • Developing roadmap sections concerning ASME codes, standards, certifications, and non-destructive evaluations
  • Offering training and support materials for Ukraine's adoption of ASME nuclear codes and standards

The final roadmap will detail specific steps for implementing secure and safe SMRs in Ukraine's clean steel manufacturing operations, supporting the country's broader goals for industrial modernization and decarbonization.