First nuclear power plant in Serbia might be connected to grid before 2050 – What does the draft Energy Development Strategy envisage?

Depending on the strategic decisions related to the use of nuclear energy, the first nuclear power plant in Serbia might be connected to the grid before 2050, says the draft Energy Development Strategy for Serbia until 2040, with Projections until 2050, about which the Ministry of Mining and Energy has launched a public discussion.

It is reminded that the document “The Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan for the Period until 2030 and a Vision until 2050” considers a scenario which envisages the participation of nuclear energy in the energy mix of Serbia, with a conservative projection of putting the nuclear power plant into operation in 2045.

– Considering the road map of the development of the nuclear program, as well as the planned removal of the moratorium on the construction of nuclear power plants in Serbia, if all the necessary activities before the beginning of the construction, as well as the realization of the construction project itself, were finished within the defined deadlines, the construction and commissioning of the nuclear facility might be considered in the period until 2040 too – the draft Strategy adds.

According to the MAAE instructions, according to the document, there are three phases of development of the infrastructure for the nuclear energy program:

– Phase 1: The deliberations before the decision on launching the nuclear program is reached. This is the initial phase and it lasts until the candidate state, fully informed and educated, obliges itself to develop the nuclear energy program.

– Phase 2: The preparatory works for the contracting and construction of the nuclear power plant after the political decision is made. After this phase, the candidate state has to be ready to open an invitation for bids/negotiations about the agreement for the first nuclear power plant.

– Phase 3: The activities toward the realization of the first nuclear power plant. This is the final phase of development, within which the commissioning of the first nuclear power plant is expected.

It is reminded that, in Serbia, the Law on the Ban of the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants is in force and that Serbia does not have balance reserves of nuclear raw materials and that there are no regulatory or administrative frameworks which would regulate the construction and operations of nuclear power plants, facilities for the production of nuclear fuel and facilities for the processing of used nuclear fuel.

– There are no scientists or engineers that would monitor the construction and operations of these facilities either, and the nuclear energy study programs have been canceled too – says the draft Strategy.

However, it is added, nuclear units are a very reliable source of energy, meant for covering the base load, which has a positive effect on the stability of power generation with zero emission of polluting matters into the air.

– From that aspect, nuclear power plants might take over the role of the existing thermal energy capacities which use coal in the energy system of the Republic of Serbia. In addition to traditional nuclear power plants, where the electric power of individual reactors is usually 1000-1500 MW, today, small modular reactors – nuclear fission reactors with an electrical power of 300 MW or less are in the phase of intensive development too. These pre-fabricated reactors should make serial production economical and considerably shorten the time of construction compared to traditional facilities – it is said.

In the upcoming period, the government, as added, will initiate the process of the preparation of the necessary institutional, expert and regulatory frameworks for the use of nuclear energy and the treatment and disposal of used nuclear fuel.

– This is a mandatory pre-condition for the creation of the necessary investment environment for the introduction of nuclear technologies in the Serbian economy – the draft says.

It is also reminded that the public debate was launched recently with the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the implementation of the development of nuclear energy in the Republic of Serbia with the expert and science community, entailing safety, legal, organizational, scientific-research, engineering and all other aspects of the use of nuclear technology.

– Special attention has to be paid to the disposal and processing of used nuclear fuel and the impact of this technology on the environment – says the draft Strategy.

The public discussion about this document will last until August 15, and complaints, suggestions and comments can be submitted electronically on the portal eKonsultacije, or at: strategija_energetike@mre.gov.rs.

Citizens and experts can also give their complaints, suggestions and comments to the text of the draft Strategy at the public events which will be held: in Belgrade, on July 26, at the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, in Nis, on July 30, in the premises of the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Nis, and in Novi Sad, on July 31, at the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Novi Sad.

The draft Energy Development Strategy for Serbia until 2040 with Projections until 2050 can be viewed in the PDF document below.

I. Z.

Click for the PDF file.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Ministry of Mining and Energy of Serbia

draft Energy Development Strategy for Serbia until 2040

with Projections until 2050

Law on the Ban of the Construction of Nuclear Power Plants

nuclear energy

nuclear power plants

construction of nuclear power plants