Slovakia Edges Closer to Intergovernmental Agreement for New Nuclear Power Plant

Strategic Insights -

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced that the country is close to finalizing an intergovernmental agreement with the United States for the construction of a new nuclear power plant. The project is expected to be built by the American company Westinghouse and will have a capacity of 1,250 megawatts, significantly increasing Slovakia's nuclear energy output. The new plant will be constructed on the site of the decommissioned V1 nuclear power station in Jaslovske Bohunice, with an estimated cost of between £13 and £15 billion and a completion date around 2040.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Slovak government is expected to sign an intergovernmental agreement with the United States for the construction of a new nuclear power plant, which will be built by Westinghouse.
  • The new plant will have a capacity of 1,250 megawatts, a significant increase from the current reactors' capacity of around 440 megawatts.
  • The construction of the plant is estimated to cost between £13 and £15 billion and is expected to be completed around 2040.
  • The project is a key priority for the current government, aiming for Slovakia to be self-sufficient in electricity production.
  • The plant will be constructed on the site of the decommissioned V1 nuclear power station in Jaslovske Bohunice.
  • The opposition has criticized the government's plan to proceed without a public tender for selecting the builder of the new nuclear power facility.

Statistics:

  • Current reactors' capacity: around 440 megawatts
  • New nuclear power plant's capacity: 1,250 megawatts
  • Estimated construction cost: between £13 and £15 billion
  • Completion date: around 2040
  • Current reactors' lifespan: ongoing
  • Decommissioned reactions' shutdown: 2006 and 2008

Sources:

  • SITA newswire
  • Westinghouse Electric Company press statement
  • Hlas article (cited by Prime Minister Robert Fico)
  • SaS party statement
  • PS statement
  • "V1 nuclear power station" article, unspecified publication date