The company's goal is to put the facility into operation within ten years.
Nuclear power in new locations strengthens the resilience of both Sweden and Europe. It also strengthens regional energy supply, says Johan Britz (L), acting minister of climate and environment, after receiving Blykalla's application.
Recurring power shortage
If the government and the municipality give the green light, the project will also be reviewed by the Land and Environment Court and the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority.
The six lead-cooled small modular reactors (SMRs) in Norrsundet that Blykalla wants to build would, according to the company's CEO Jacob Stedman, have a total output of 330 megawatts. This is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 150,000 households.
Lead cooling technology was developed in the Soviet Union in the late 1950s and 1960s. It has been used in nuclear-powered submarines, among other things.
Norrsundet has all the conditions: a secluded location, a port for transport, proximity to the regional grid and a strategic position between electricity areas 2 and 3, says Stedman.
He adds that Gävle also "suffers from a recurring power shortage."
Apply for financing
Stedman does not want to discuss the cost estimate for the six SMR reactors.
We have not disclosed the cost today, but we will simultaneously initiate a process with the Ministry of Finance, where we will apply for the financing mechanism that has been developed. In connection with that process, we will be able to tell you more about the cost picture.
Britz also doesn't want to discuss the price tag.
Investing in nuclear power is very costly at first, but it yields a very high return over time, says the acting minister.
When asked what the investments in new nuclear power that the government wants to see going forward will cost taxpayers, Britz replies:
Hopefully not very much. But the biggest cost to taxpayers is when we don't have the power to electrify the transport sector, make ourselves independent of fossil fuels from the Middle East, or - for that matter - invest in Swedish industry.
Last year, a government financing mechanism totaling SEK 220 billion was launched to support the construction of new nuclear power over twelve years. In addition, price guarantees are offered that are estimated to cost SEK 1–3 billion per year for 40 years. According to the government, the loans will be enough to get investments in place that will provide a total of approximately 5,000 megawatts of electrical power.
On May 18, 2026, Blykalla applied to build six SMR reactors in Norrsundet, Gävle, with a total output of 330 megawatts.
In March this year, a company in the Kärnfull Next group – Refirm Målma AB – submitted an application to build 4-6 SMR reactors outside Valdemarsvik with a total output of 1,200-1,600 megawatts.
The state-owned Vattenfall has also previously initiated a feasibility study and applied for government support to build 2-3 SMR reactors with an output of approximately 1,500 megawatts next to existing facilities at the nuclear power plant in Ringhals.
