Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, addressing the 18th European Nuclear Energy Forum (ENEF) in Bratislava, emphasised the key role of nuclear energy for the future of both Slovakia and Europe and called for a return to “common sense” in EU energy policy. “Without that core, it just won’t work. If we want stable, affordable and environmentally friendly energy sources, we must not only maintain that core, but also further develop it,” he said.
He noted that Slovakia has many years of experience in nuclear energy including the operation and development of NPPs and the decommissioning of old units. Plants. He highlighted the completion units 3&4 of the Mochovce NPP and praised the progress of the decommissioning project in Jaslovský Bohunice. “I believe that the decommissioning programme at Jaslovske Bohunice is a model for the world, and it should be fully utilised. We need to train as many people as possible because we must also succeed in this part of the nuclear cycle.” He also mentioned co-operation between Slovak company JAVYS and France-based newcleo for the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) and a used fuel recycling project.
Fico also announced that on 10 September, the Slovak government had approved a draft interstate agreement with the US on the construction of a new 1,000 MWe unit in Jaslovský Bohunice, which will be state-owned. He said the project will be important not only for Slovakia but also for the whole of Central Europe. “We need new energy sources if we want to maintain competitiveness and respond to growing consumption,” he stressed.
He added that Slovakia is also already facing growing demand for electricity, especially in the context of the development of electric cars, data centres and battery repositories. This could increase energy consumption by 40-60% by 2040, which will require new resources and infrastructure modernisation.
Fico called on the European Commission (EC) to address energy prices and to create the conditions for maintaining the competitiveness of European industry. He strongly criticised RePowerEU, the EC plan to end reliance on Russian energy sources before 2030. He described the policy as “a nonsensical ideological step” threatening the energy security of EU member states. He emphasised that EU decisions must be rational and technically feasible, not politically motivated.
“Please take off those anti-Russian glasses,” he said. “Given that today Slovakia generates over 60% of its electricity from nuclear energy, we are talking about a country that is crucial not only for the Slovak Republic but for the region as well.” He added: “Ideology cannot manage energy policy. If nuclear fuel is included in RePower, it will jeopardise the energy security of the European Union as a whole.”
He noted that, while the US continued to buy enriched uranium from the Russian Federation, the EU was making decisions that harm its own industry. “We cannot allow Europe to become just a cultural museum. We need to produce, live and work – not take ideological decisions that harm our economy.” He stressed that Slovakia will continue to actively pursue a sovereign and realistic energy policy that ensures the stability, availability and competitiveness of its energy resources.
Slovakia currently has five operating reactors at two NPPs (Bohunice and Mochovce), all of which are VVER 440 V-213 PWRs, together supplying more than 2300 MWe of capacity. Two units are operating at Bohunice and three at Mochovce. The 471 MWe Mochovce unit 3 was completed in 2023 while the 471 MWe Mochovce unit 4 unit is expected to become operational soon. Plant operator Slovenské Elektrárne (SE) began hot testing in March.
It is not clear when Slovakia will finalise the deal with the US. Meanwhile it is keeping its options open. In September, Fico reportedly unsettled Washington after suggesting that Russian firms could also take part in building a new NPP. He told reporters, after a meeting with Vladimir Putin in China, that he would “welcome US–Russian cooperation” on the planned Jaslovské Bohunice NPP. He added that he would encourage Russian companies to establish contacts with the US Westinghouse, which Bratislava had previously chosen as a partner.
Slovakia is also diversifying its nuclear fuel supplies as a hedge against implementation of RePowerEU. In September, Canada-based Cameco finalised a long-term agreement to supply natural uranium hexafluoride (UF6) to SE for use in its NPPs. The agreement consists of uranium and conversion services and is expected to provide a diversified source of natural UF6 for SE until 2036. In July, SE also signed a contract with Urenco Group for the supply of enriched uranium for Bohunice and Mochovce until the mid-2030s.
