Serbia negotiating with Russia about construction of nuclear power plant

The Serbian authorities and Rosatom have begun a substantive dialogue on the nuclear power plant construction project, Serbian Ambassador to Moscow Momcilo Babic told Izvestia. According to him, progress on this issue can be achieved in the coming years.

– We are seriously talking with Rosatom. I think there is no better company in the world to build a nuclear power plant. I am sure that there will be progress in the coming years, because we need electricity. We will do it anyway – Momcilo Babic told Izvestia.

The portal reminds that, in November 2024, the Serbian parliament lifted the ban on the construction of nuclear power plants, which had been in effect since 1989. It was introduced after the Chernobyl accident. Now the position has changed due to the fact that electricity consumption in the country is expected to increase fourfold by 2050.

Serbia intends to build a nuclear power plant and is actively looking for a contractor for this project. According to the Russian portal, among the options are Russia, South Korea, France and China. In September 2025, the Serbian government signed two memorandums of understanding with the South Korean company KHNP on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. Last year, the Serbian Ministry of Energy also hired the French company EDF to conduct a study on the potential use of nuclear generation.

As Izvestia writes, according to analysts, the Russian proposal is the most profitable, since it includes all segments of nuclear energy - not only in the construction of nuclear power plants, but also in the maintenance of their operation, as well as the supply of nuclear fuel and the disposal of spent materials. If Belgrade decides to build a large nuclear power plant, Rosatom will probably offer a classic version with two VVER-1200 reactors. If a small nuclear power plant is chosen, Rosatom can offer RITM-200 or RITM-400 reactors.

According to the Russian portal, negotiations between Russia and Serbia on the construction of a nuclear power plant may take a year or two, then the parties will begin construction. It is possible that Russia will also provide Belgrade with a preferential loan, following its standard practice.

The article points out that experts warn that the European Union may potentially interfere with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Serbia with the participation of Russia, given that Serbia is striving to join the EU, and Belgrade is currently harmonizing its legislation with the European one. Brussels is already demanding to join the anti-Russian sanctions.

Narodna skupština Republike Srbije

Rosatom

National Assembly of Serbia

KHNP

EDF

Momčilo Babić

construction of nuclear power plant