Đedović Handanović: Serbia to cooperate with Slovenia in nuclear energy

Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia Dubravka Đedović Handanović met with Ambassador of Slovenia Damjan Bergant in the building of the Government of Serbia to discuss potential cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy.

The Krško nuclear power plant in Slovenia, built decades ago, produces more than one third of the country’s electricity, Đedović Handanović said after the meeting with Bergant. “We discussed cooperation between regulatory, scientific, and educational institutions, the exchange of experiences, and visits by our experts, given that Slovenia has successfully managed its nuclear program for decades and is considering the construction of new capacities,” she stated.

In late November, the National Assembly of Serbia abolished the moratorium on the construction of nuclear power plants, introduced in 1989. The minister emphasized that Serbia has recognized nuclear energy as a potential long-term solution for the decarbonization of its energy sector.

A preliminary technical study for considering the peaceful use of nuclear energy in Serbia will be completed in the second quarter of this year.

“The use of nuclear energy is envisaged as one of the options within the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, as well as in the new Energy Sector Development Strategy, where we have explored the possibility of integrating nuclear power plants into Serbia’s electricity system after 2040. In the second quarter of this year, a preliminary technical study on the possibility of peaceful use of nuclear energy in the country will be completed. The aim is to present available technologies and recommend appropriate solutions for Serbia. And after that we can begin planning the next steps based on the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Đedović-Handanović said.

The study is being prepared by French state-owned energy utility EDF and construction and engineering company Egis Industries.

The analysis needs to cover conventional, generation 3+ nuclear power plants, as well as more advanced technologies like small modular reactors or SMRs.

Bergant: The Jožef Stefan Institute is interested in cooperating with the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences

Ambassador Bergant stressed Slovenia’s commitment to establishing and developing long-term institutional cooperation with Serbia in the field of nuclear energy.

“The Jožef Stefan Institute is interested in cooperating with the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, as well as other institutions that can support Serbia in developing its nuclear program,” he said.

France and Slovenia also collaborate in the field of nuclear energy. Last year, the French International Institute for Nuclear Energy (I2EN) and EDF signed memorandums of understanding with the Jožef Stefan Institute and the University of Maribor regarding peaceful nuclear energy use.