SLOVAKIA’s largest energy producer, Slovenské Elektrárne, (SE) has received the final statement of approval from the Environment Ministry for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for operation of the third and fourth units of its Mochovce nuclear power plant.
“This was the last step in the so-called EIA process initiated at the end of 2008,” said SE spokesperson Jana Burdová, as quoted by the SITA newswire. “The statement released by the Environment Ministry ends the EIA process and is one of the key documents necessary for the Nuclear Supervision Office (UJD) to issue a permit to launch the operation of the third and fourth units after their completion in 2012 and 2013.”
According to SE Director General Paolo Ruzzini, the new nuclear reactors meet all international safety norms. He said the new units are a project of crucial importance for the energy security of the country.
Construction work on completion of the units was officially launched on November 3, 2008. The units are due to be finished by 2012 and 2013 respectively. The third unit should be connected to the power grid in autumn 2012 and the fourth unit eight months later, in 2013. The units will have an installed capacity of 880 megawatts.
