Fico signals Slovak-US agreement on Bohunice unit

Speaking at the European Nuclear Energy Forum in Bratislava, Fico spoke about European Union energy policy, saying there must be "common sense" and "it simply will not work without nuclear energy. If we want stable, affordable and ecological energy sources, we must not only preserve nuclear energy, but also further develop it".

According to the government website's report of the speech, ministers approved in September the wording of an intergovernmental agreement with the US "on the construction of a new nuclear unit in Jaslovské Bohunice, which will be state-owned and will have an output of more than 1,000 MW". 

It quoted him as saying: "This project will be important not only for Slovakia, but also for the whole of Central Europe. We need new energy sources if we want to remain competitive and respond to growing consumption."

The Slovak government officially approved plans in May 2024 for a 1.2 GWe unit near the existing Bohunice nuclear power plant, with South Korea, the USA and France at the time seen as potential partners.

In August Fico said the European Commission had "positively assessed" a draft agreement between the governments of the Slovak Republic and the USA on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, which he added was a prerequisite for the conclusion of an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of a new Westinghouse unit in Bohunice.

According to the country's energy department, negotiations with the USA continued after the Slovak government approved the wording of the agreement on 10 September. On 16 September it quoted Deputy Prime Minister Denisa Saková as saying: "Negotiations are progressing and we are gradually approaching the signing of the agreement. I believe that nuclear energy can be a great opportunity for both countries - in addition to helping us strengthen energy security, it will advance research and open the door to new projects and cooperation."

During his speech Fico also highlighted cooperation between Slovakia’s JAVYS and Newcleo on the latter's lead-cooled small modular reactors which are powered by reused nuclear fuel: "If we succeed in this project, Slovakia will become a leader in innovations in the nuclear field," he said.

He also criticised the European Union’s RePowerEU proposals, which are designed to "end dependency on Russian energy", saying that "if nuclear fuel is included in RePowering, it will threaten the energy security of the entire European Union".

Slovakia currently has five nuclear reactors - three at Mochovce and two at Bohunice - generating half of its electricity, and it has one more at Mochovce under construction. Both plants are operated by Slovenske Elektrarne.