Mochovce nuclear power plant (source: SME)
After the tragedy in Fukushima, countries across the world have started re-evaluating the use of nuclear power plants for energy production. Slovakia, on the other hand, is among countries supporting this sector and does not plan to stop using it in its energy mix.
However, the state has halted the construction of any new nuclear power plants for now.
“To achieve a balance between the consumption and production of electricity by 2030, the construction of other bigger sources will not be necessary,” the Economy Ministry wrote in its annual report on the security of electricity supplies published in late September, as quoted by the SITA newswire, “particularly when taking into consideration the completion of the energy sources that is currently underway and the predicted implementation of the renewable energy sources projects.”
Nuclear energy still important
The ministry explained in its report that the operation of the new power plant with an installed capacity of 1,200 MW and the currently used two blocks with an installed capacity of more than 1,000 MW under current conditions would require considerable investments in the transmission system. It thus claims that the construction would be more effective only if it replaced the existing V2 plant.
On the other hand, the ministry still claims that the new nuclear power plant with performance of 1,200 MW is the most important and the most promising project of Slovakia´s energy sector in terms of its impact on the whole electricity network and energy security.
“Since it is an important project with a considerable impact on Slovakia’s electricity network and the surrounding systems and since fundamental changes of prerequisites may occur until the construction begins, it will be necessary to update the effects and requirements in the next phase of the project’s preparation,” the Economy Ministry stated, as quoted by SITA.
