Fico: Slovakia continues to prepare a power plant with Czechia, but may use small reactors

Bratislava, Nov 16 (CTK correspondent) – Slovakia is continuing to work with the Czech Republic on preparations for a new large nuclear power plant in western Slovakia, while the use of small modular reactors is also being considered as an alternative. This emerged from a statement made today by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

„One option is to build a new large unit; the other is to continue with what are known as small reactors. The work schedule for our cooperation with the Czech Republic remains in place, and we are preparing to build another unit at the Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear power plant,“ Fico told reporters. He is a supporter of nuclear power generation.

The project for a new nuclear power plant in Slovakia is being prepared by the semi-state-owned Slovak company Jadrová energetická spoločnosť Slovenska (JESS), in which the Czech power company ČEZ Group holds a 49 percent stake. JESS was established in 2009, and construction of the new plant was originally expected to begin in 2014. The plant is planned for the Jaslovské Bohunice site, where Slovenské elektrárne (SE), Slovakia’s largest electricity producer, operates its own nuclear power plant. Slovakia shut down two units at the older V1 nuclear power plant there in 2006 and 2008 to meet its commitments to the EU.