Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic has met with a delegation led by Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev.
They discussed cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy, Handanovic’s ministry announced.
The minister stated that Serbia plans to build additional capacities for production of electricity, as well as that a new stable source of basic energy is needed due to economic growth, new technologies, artificial intelligence and decarbonization of the energy sector.
Djedovic Handanovic added that our country has adopted strategic documents that recognize nuclear energy as an option after 2040, and the Government of Serbia should also approve the formation of the National Organization for the Implementation of the Nuclear Program (NEPIO) by the end of the month.
“We plan to complete the first and second phases of the nuclear program by 2032. In the preparatory phase, we are cooperating with the French company EDF, and we are willing to cooperate with other technology pillars from whom we have things to learn. At that moment, the technology of small modular reactors will be more developed than today, and we will be able to consider them as an option. Once we have institutional, regulatory and personnel capacities in place, we will be able to pick the construction and technology partner, and go into the construction process, so that after 2040 we can have a nuclear power plant on the grid,” she stated.
The minister said that Serbia and Russia have decades worth of cooperation when it comes to energy, in the gas, oil, and electricity sectors, and that there is a deep connection and successful cooperation on various projects.
“We are at the crossroads of planning the future of the electricity sector and the beginning of a long journey. I am proud that after 35 years we repealed the law banning construction of nuclear power plants and started to build the foundations for future development of nuclear power in Serbia. We are learning from various partners in the preliminary and preparatory phase of the development of the nuclear program and Rosatom as one of the world leaders, which has been building nuclear power plants and developing nuclear programs in countries around the world for 80 years, some of which have had the experience, and some of which are developing nuclear power for the first time, can be a valuable partner for knowledge exchange and support in the preparatory phase of the development of the nuclear program,” Djedovic Handanovic said.
Rosatom head Alexey Likhachev presented the experience and activities of this state company, the projects that are currently in development, as well as plans for the future and modalities of possible cooperation.
“Rosatom is a world leader in nuclear energy and is currently implementing approximately 30 large and small blocks in nine countries, including China, India, Egypt, Turkey, and Hungary. We could exchange experience and knowledge with Serbia within a working group. Our experts can cooperate in areas such as informing and educating the public, strengthening personnel capacities and analyzing the regulatory framework,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Serbia, Aleksandr Botsan Kharchenko.
