Nuclear energy in Slovakia

Bohunice

Mochovce

Nuclear power stations in Slovakia (view)
 Active plants

Slovakia has four operational nuclear reactors, commissioned between 1984 and 1999. The net MWe is 1,815 and nuclear energy produces approximately 52% of the country’s electricity.^[1] Of Slovakia's seven reactors, the three oldest ones have shut down. However, the government is committed to nuclear power, and two more reactors have been under construction at Mochovce since 1985.^[2]

Prior to its accession to the European Union, Slovakia had to shut down two of its older reactors at Bohunice, because they did not meet European safety standards according to one source. Slovakia spent significant effort to achieve WANO standards, but the EU insisted on the shutdowns. The first plant closed 31 December 2006 and the second on the last day of 2008. The closure of these units, prior to the completion of two new reactors has left the country short on power and Slovakia became an energy importer after the first plant was shut down.

Within the EU, Slovakia is one of the pro-nuclear Visegrád Group nations.^[3][4]

The two planned reactors at Mochovce are to be of capacity of MWe 405 each^[2] and completion dates of 2012 and 2013. Italian power company Enel, a majority shareholder of the Slovak power company, plans investment of €1.6 billion for completion of the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant units 3 and 4 by 2011–2012. In January 2006 the Slovak government approved a new energy strategy incorporating these plans, with capacity uprates at Mochovce NPP units 1 and 2, and at Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant units 3 and 4.^[5]

Radioactive waste in Slovakia is disposed without reprocessing. The spent fuel stays at the reactor site; however, some spent fuel has been exported to Russia. Slovakia has also begun a search for a high-level waste repository and established a fund with approximately €775 million to build it.

References