Serbia requests funding for first phase of nuclear program

Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic stated that by repealing the law banning the construction of nuclear power plants, Serbia had “opened the door” to considering nuclear energy, and that at the beginning of 2026 a request had been sent to the French Development Agency (AFD) for grants to finance additional studies related to the first phase of the domestic nuclear program.

After a meeting with the French Ambassador to Serbia, Florence Ferrari, and a delegation from the French Electricity Company (EDF), she stated that she expected the continuation of cooperation between the ministry and the company to be formalized in March 2026.

She also added that the formalization of the National Body for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Program was in its final phase at that moment, and that its establishment was expected by the end of the month.

– We are currently in the first phase of the development of the nuclear program... Serbia is at a crossroads when it comes to planning the future of the energy sector. The priority is to make responsible decisions that will ensure stability in the coming decades, in accordance with the adopted Energy Development Strategy until 2040, with projections until 2050 – said Djedovic Handanovic, the statement reads.

She stated that the academic community, domestic experts and international partners were “of exceptional importance for structuring further activities,” adding that a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of application of nuclear energy development had been previously signed with representatives of five ministries and 20 faculties, scientific institutes and energy companies.

– Many experts are already expressing interest in contributing, either from retirement, from abroad, or through cooperation with the academic community (...) We need a larger amount of electricity for the economy, the development of data centers and artificial intelligence, and the energy system requires additional investments, as well as new energy sources, production capacities and investments in the network – stated the minister.

EDF representatives said that a preliminary study, which had been developed in collaboration with Serbian experts, had identified 19 key steps according to the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

A memorandum of understanding between the Serbian government and EDF on establishing a framework for long-term dialogue and cooperation in the field of energy transition and low-carbon technology was signed in 2024.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Ambasada Republike Francuske Beograd

Embassy of France in Serbia

Florence Ferrari

Dubravka Đedović Handanović