Slovakia became a net electricity exporter after completing a new nuclear unit

Bratislava, 22 January (CTK correspondent) – According to data from local transmission system operator SEPS, Slovakia became a net exporter of electricity last year. A new nuclear unit entered operation in the country in 2023 and, according to its operator, will make Slovakia self-sufficient in electricity generation.

Last year, Slovakia exported 14 067 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity via the transmission system, down 8.2 percent year on year, while imports fell by 36.4 percent to 10 648 GWh. The country's trade surplus in the commodity thus reached 3419 GWh, whereas in 2022 imports exceeded exports by 1 424 GWh.

The turnaround was likely driven not only by the start-up of the new nuclear unit, but also by lower electricity consumption in Slovakia, which fell year on year according to data for the first 11 months of last year. A year ago, Slovalco, formerly Slovakia's largest electricity consumer, announced that it would shut down its remaining furnaces.

The third unit at the Mochovce nuclear power plant, which according to its operator will cover almost 13 percent of Slovakia's total electricity consumption, completed the start-up process last autumn and also reached full capacity. According to earlier data, fuel loading into the plant's fourth unit, which is under construction, is expected next year.

Electricity consumption in Slovakia is likely to rise after Slovak-Chinese company Gotion InoBat Batteries (GIB) completes its announced investment to build a factory in the country producing batteries for electric vehicles, under a memorandum signed with the government. Production capacity in the first phase will reach 20 GWh, with the option of subsequently doubling it.