AFD CEO: Serbia needs ten years to build nuclear reactor, whole generation to train experts

Serbia could build a nuclear reactor in about ten years, but developing experts capable of designing, safely operating, and overseeing it would require an entire generation, Christophe Lecourtier, CEO of the French Development Agency (AFD), told Nova ekonomija.

– France is committed to supporting the enhancement of Serbia’s energy sovereignty, and to that end, it is ready to share the recognized expertise of EDF (the state-owned electric utility company) in the field of civil nuclear energy – said Lecourtier, who was on an official visit to Serbia and discussed the development of nuclear energy in the country with Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic.

When asked about the findings of the human resources development study for the nuclear program, which, according to Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, was being conducted with AFD support, Lecourtier stated that work on the study had only begun in early September and that it was too early to comment on the results.

– What is already clear, however, is that a nuclear program is essentially a human capacity development program. A single reactor could be built in about ten years, but an entire generation is needed to develop the skills required for its design, safe operation, and oversight – Lecourtier said.

He pointed out that cooperation with EDF was particularly useful in that regard because “the company has decades of experience in training thousands of nuclear energy experts and managing their work.”

– That experience will help Serbia accurately determine its needs. At the same time, it will help establish the right organizational and educational foundations across the entire value chain, from universities and training centers to the future operator. AFD is financing and supporting the construction of these foundations. Our horizon extends well beyond 2040. That is the true measure of the commitment France has made: this is a partnership built to last – said Lecourtier.

When asked whether Serbia was on the right track regarding the green transition and the increased use of renewable energy sources, Lecourtier stated that Serbia’s European path served as the best compass for this process.

– Serbia’s transition rests on three pillars, and AFD is involved in each of them. The first pillar is public policy. Since 2023, AFD, alongside the World Bank and Germany’s KfW, has been supporting Serbia in implementing the European Green Deal by financing two projects totaling 270 million euros – Lecourtier noted.

He emphasized that there was a planned 33.3 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and that significant funds had been allocated to achieve this goal.

The second pillar, according to him, is long-term planning. “AFD supports the development of energy strategies and models with a 2050 outlook, covering nuclear energy, renewable energy sources, and the phase-out of coal. Work in this area is based on an equal dialogue between experts from the Ministry of Mining and Energy and their French counterparts,” said the AFD CEO.

The third pillar, according to him, is the grid itself. AFD is therefore supporting EMS, the transmission system operator, in digitizing Serbia’s grid and integrating it into the European electricity market, as stronger interconnections enhance supply stability and lower electricity prices.

Lecourtier states that AFD’s priority is to support Serbia on its path toward European integration and the implementation of the EU acquis.

– The value of our projects in this country now exceeds EUR 1.1 billion. In the energy sector, our activities focus on sectoral reforms and grid modernization in cooperation with EMS, and now also on the nuclear program. Beyond energy, AFD is involved in improving urban mobility in numerous Serbian cities, as well as in railroads and environmental infrastructure. Our ambition for the future is to remain a long-term partner in this transformation – said Lecourtier.

French Development Agency

AFD

Christophe Lecourtier

nuclear reactor