Rolls-Royce Holdings last Saturday denied reports that it was exploring an initial public offering (IPO) for its Small Modular Reactor (SMR) division. Earlier reports cited sources indicating the company was considering an IPO among other financing options, though negotiations remained in early stages. A spokesperson for Rolls-Royce SMR explicitly stated via email: "There are currently neither plans nor any IPO procedures initiated."

In June this year, Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the builder for the UK's first small modular reactors, a key initiative in Britain's push toward grid decarbonization by the mid-2030s. The consortium, majority-owned by Rolls-Royce, plans to construct three reactors. The UK government has committed £2.5 billion (approximately $3.4 billion) over the next four years for SMR projects, aiming to create Europe's first small nuclear industry demonstration projects.

Currently, multiple countries worldwide are accelerating their deployment of small modular reactor technology. Beyond the UK, the United States, Canada, Romania, and the Czech Republic have all launched related research and development initiatives. Should the UK project successfully materialize, it would not only drive domestic energy structure transformation but could also open new growth opportunities for the global nuclear energy market.