In an era defined by urgent energy transitions and environmental accountability, South African company Stratek Global is reshaping how nuclear energy infrastructure is conceived, built, and experienced.

The firm’s High-Temperature Modular Reactor (HTMR-100) is emerging as a technical benchmark in next-generation nuclear systems, one that fuses engineering innovation with architectural sensitivity to its natural surroundings.

“We are proving that nuclear power can be both clean and visually harmonious,” says Dr Kelvin Kemm, Chairman of Stratek Global. “The HTMR-100 is not simply a power plant; it’s an energy system that integrates with the environment rather than dominates it.”

South Africa’s engineering past meant that the country once led the way in terms of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), a project now abandoned, which has its DNA in the current global interest in SMRs.

At the core of Stratek Global’s strategy for proving SMRs are both safe and useful lies the HTMR-100, a 100-megawatt thermal (35-40 MWe electrical) small modular reactor that utilises high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology. It operates with TRISO-coated uranium fuel, renowned for its robust containment integrity, and uses helium gas as a coolant, ensuring both operational safety and high thermal efficiency.

“The HTMR-100 is inherently safe,” explains Kemm. “Its design ensures that even in the absence of operator intervention, cooling is maintained through passive systems. The reactor cannot melt down in the conventional sense.”

The system’s graphite-moderated core operates at high temperatures (around 750°C), allowing for both electricity generation and potential industrial heat applications, such as hydrogen production, desalination, and process steam for mining operations. This adaptability positions the HTMR-100 as a flexible energy solution capable of serving both grid and off-grid clients.

Crucially, the HTMR-100 requires no large external water source, unlike traditional pressurised-water reactors. “We can place this reactor anywhere, coastal, inland, or remote locations, because the helium cooling system is closed-loop,” Kemm notes. “That flexibility is vital for countries with limited water infrastructure.”

A central advantage of the HTMR-100 lies in its modularity and compact physical footprint. The entire plant occupies an area comparable to a football field, significantly smaller than both fossil-fuel facilities and large renewable installations.

The reactor’s modular configuration allows for factory fabrication and rapid assembly on site, drastically shortening construction timelines and improving cost control. It also allows for scalable deployment: multiple modules can be added incrementally to match regional energy demand.

“Instead of ten years of civil works, you can deploy reliable nuclear power within three to five years,” says Kemm. “This scalability changes the economic equation for developing nations.”

Sustainable architecture and regional adaptability

To complement its technical achievements, Stratek Global commissioned JKDA Architects to develop a suite of architectural designs that integrate each installation into its surrounding ecosystem. The Kudu and Oryx designs, in particular, demonstrate how architectural identity and local materials can coexist with advanced engineering.

The Kudu design, intended for African savannah environments, draws inspiration from the vertical lines of natural camouflage found on species such as the kudu and zebra. The reactor’s form echoes the African drum, symbolising energy as the “heartbeat of the community.” Columns and trusses use raw, locally sourced materials that weather naturally, reducing heat absorption and maintenance requirements.

“The Kudu embodies both strength and grace,” Kemm says. “It represents the elegance of African engineering, powerful, sustainable, and inherently local.”

The Oryx design, optimised for arid desert regions, incorporates raw tinted concrete, natural stone, and Corten steel, all of which weather organically without the need for external maintenance. The structures are shaped to mirror the undulating forms of desert dunes, while native plants and rock formations are used to promote biodiversity and ecological continuity.

“These designs are more than cosmetic,” Kemm explains. “They’re functional embodiments of environmental adaptation. They cool naturally, use less energy for climate control, and involve local contractors in construction.”

Future design variations, including the Sable, will address Arctic conditions and high-latitude climates, while urban designs are being developed for metropolitan settings, emphasising public engagement and aesthetic integration.

Environmental and operational sustainability

The HTMR-100 has been engineered to achieve a minimal environmental footprint across its lifecycle. The reactor produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation, aligning with global decarbonisation goals.

Its advanced fuel cycle enables the safe, long-term management of nuclear waste. Each facility can store up to 40 years’ worth of spent fuel on site within reinforced bunkers, ready for transfer to a permanent repository in accordance with national regulations. “This is about responsibility from start to finish,” says Kemm. “Every aspect of our design, from construction materials to waste handling, is driven by sustainability.”

The compact footprint also helps preserve open land, supporting ecological inclusion and reducing the strain on existing infrastructure. Native landscaping elements are incorporated directly into site design to maintain biodiversity.

Strategic partnerships and global ambitions

Stratek Global’s ambitions extend beyond South Africa. The company has entered into a strategic partnership with France’s Groupe Albatros, aimed at facilitating SMR deployment across Africa and the Middle East. The collaboration combines Stratek’s reactor expertise with Albatros’s engineering and project-management capacity to accelerate regional energy independence.

Interest in the HTMR-100 has already come from municipalities, provincial governments, mining companies, and agricultural producers seeking stable, low-carbon power. “Energy resilience is no longer optional,” Kemm asserts. “Our technology gives industries and communities the ability to control their energy future safely and sustainably.”

For Stratek Global, the HTMR-100 is both an engineering milestone and a cultural statement, an effort to redefine nuclear power as a positive, community-enhancing force. Its blend of technical reliability, environmental integrity, and architectural sophistication signals a turning point for nuclear acceptance in Africa and beyond.

“We’re ushering in a new era where nuclear power is not hidden away behind concrete walls,” concludes Kemm. “It’s something that communities can see, understand, and take pride in. Clean, compact, and beautiful, this is the future of nuclear energy.”