Deuric: Key questions before selecting technology and partner for nuclear reactor construction

Marija Deuric, Head of the Rosatom State Corporation representative office in Serbia, highlighted key aspects of technological leadership and the prospects for nuclear program development, with a particular focus on Serbia’s position. According to Deuric, while Serbia is not a novice in the field, it faces complex decisions that must be addressed before a specific technology is selected, Rosatom announced.

Speaking at a main panel in Avignon dedicated to the nuclear renaissance and international cooperation, Deuric specifically addressed the challenges faced by newcomer countries, nations just introducing or reviving a nuclear program. Regarding the situation in Serbia following the 2024 lifting of the moratorium, she emphasized that building genuine national capacity required clear answers to key questions prior to the actual selection of a reactor or technology partner:

– Before choosing a reactor or technology partner, it is essential to answer key questions: why do we need nuclear energy, what capacity suits our grid, how will we finance it, who will operate the power plant, and who will possess the expertise to manage this program over the next 60 or 80 years? The role of a global partner is not to create dependency but to help avoid mistakes; however, the country’s government must remain in control of the process – Deuric pointed out.

She highlighted the historical foundations Serbia already possessed through the tradition of the Vinca Institute and the scientific legacy of Pavle Savic, emphasizing that Serbia was not a complete newcomer to nuclear science:

– The challenge lies not in replacing our own expertise with foreign experience, but in uniting universities, research institutes, and the business sector into a robust domestic ecosystem. Technology can be imported, but twenty years of experience cannot be replicated in just two.

Her message was delivered at the International Youth Nuclear Congress (IYNC 2026) in Avignon, held under the slogan “Chain of Change”, which gathered experts from over 50 countries and opened with the participation of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

In addition to discussing Serbia, Deuric spoke about the company she represented. While outlining Rosatom’s capabilities, she noted that the corporation was building 28 of the 32 nuclear power units being exported worldwide, accounting for nearly 90% of the global export market for nuclear power plant construction. She also highlighted a project in Uzbekistan, the only one of its kind globally to combine small- and large-capacity reactors, as well as progress toward fully closing the nuclear fuel cycle. Furthermore, she defined modern technological autonomy not merely as the independent manufacturing of every component, but as a state’s ability to understand its choices, control its program, and negotiate with partners on equal terms.

The Nuklearna perspektiva (Nuclear Perspective) portal comments that “the messages delivered in Avignon strike at the very heart of the challenge facing Serbia.”

– The decision to lift the moratorium and the declared commitment to nuclear energy are worthless unless accompanied by a systemic revitalization of the domestic pool of expertise and scientific capabilities. Shifting the focus toward creating a domestic educational and scientific “ecosystem” and strengthening institutional knowledge is the only way for Serbia to enter potential negotiations with any technology partner, whether Rosatom, EDF, KHNP, or another supplier, as a sovereign investor rather than merely a passive buyer of technology – the portal assesses.

Rosatom

Marija Deurić

International Youth Nuclear Congress in Avignon

nuclear energy

nuclear power plants

construction of nuclear capacities

moratorium