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Fico: Slovakia Wants to Be Self-sufficient in Energy via Nuclear Power
Thursday 03 June 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Jaslovske Bohunice, June 3 (TASR) - If the project for the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Jaslovske Bohunice (Trnava region) is realised, Slovakia will become self-sufficient as far as energy is concerned," said Prime Minister Robert Fico at a meeting with representatives of Slovakia's Nuclear Decommissioning Company (JAVYS) and Nuclear Energy Company of Slovakia (JESS) in Jaslovske Bohunice on Thursday.
The feasibility study should be completed by 2011 and the reactor blocks of the plant could be integrated by 2020.
According to Fico, the current energy dependency was caused by the politically motivated decision to decommission two blocks of the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant by the former government. In order to turn the current unfavourable situation round, the Government has okayed the building of a new block in the same place - for which JESS is responsible. Slovakia owns a 51-percent stake in JESS through its company JAVYS, while the remaining 49 percent is owned by Czech state-run energy company CEZ.
"During the inspection day, we spoke about the current state of the construction project. I have to say with satisfaction that a study that will enable JESS to make decisions concerning the choice of technology as well as about further steps will be completed soon, so that the new block will be launched in ten years according to the plan," said Fico.
JAVYS director Jan Valko added that the purchase of the land needed for the construction work is currently taking place, but he didn't want to speak about the extent, which is found in the confidential part of the contract, so "that no speculation occurs".
"If the new block is realised, Slovakia will have a safe modern third-generation block, which - along with the Mochovce nuclear power plant (Nitra region) - will produce so much energy that Slovakia will again be able to export electricity," said Fico. He views the decision to build in Bohunice as a good one, and thinks that interest in nuclear energy will grow. "Nobody in Europe doubts that we can't master the climate-energy package without nuclear power. It is naive to assume that we could produce enough energy via classical methods," said Fico.
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