The shareholders of the Slovenské Elektrárne (SE), which supervises the construction, agreed last autumn on 14 measures to make the late completion of the nuclear reactors more effective, while strengthening the supervision of the state over the project.
“I can say that the passed measures had an effect,” Pavlis said, as quoted by SITA, adding that they will continue to put pressure on it.
Also Luca D’Agnese, head of SE, praised the measures and the subsequent increase in effectiveness of construction works.
“The construction works have progressed significantly,” D’Agnese said, as quoted by SITA.
He added that they have already prepared a security report necessary for the backfill of the nuclear fuel, and that in the middle of this year they will also be ready to install the inner parts of the unit. The third block is currently 82 percent finished, as reported by SITA.
The completion of the two nuclear units will cost altogether €4.6 billion, up from the original €2.8 million. The third reactor should start to produce electricity in November 2016 and the fourth one year later. The whole project of the construction of the two units began already during communism, but was stopped in 1992 because of the lack of finances. The SE launched the completion in 2008, SITA wrote.
Pavlis refused to comment on the sale of a 66-percent share in SE currently controlled by Italian company Enel. He said that the priority of the government is to complete the construction. The whole process is in the hands of Enel, the minister stressed, as reported by the TASR newswire.
Pavlis reiterated that they have received four offers to buy the stocks which will be evaluated in the end of April. He did not want to say whether the state will be interested in purchasing the shares. He also admitted that the sale of Enel’s shares and the completion of the EMO are related, TASR wrote.
Source: SITA, TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
