New reactor block on the grid: Slovakia overtakes France for nuclear power

Slovakia has launched a new reactor block. When it reaches full load, Slovakia becomes the country with the world’s highest share of nuclear energy in the energy mix. And head of state Fico is already planning the next power plant. By Marianne Allweiss In August, the time had come: The new Slovak nuclear reactor has reached its criticality - a stable nuclear fission. Since mid-October, the fourth block at the Mochovce site in Western Slovakia has been feeding electricity into the grid. Slovakia will become a nuclear power, announces Branislav Strycek, head of Slovak power plants. "In the last 20 years, four nuclear units have been put into operation in Europe: two of them in Slovakia." In doing so, Slovakia is proving that even a smaller nation can do great things, Strycek said. 'This is one of the largest infrastructure projects in Europe.' Construction began in the 1980s, however, the construction of the nuclear reactor has been delayed by twelve years. Three years ago, the third block in Mochovce went online - also considerably later than planned. The costs for the two power plants have more than doubled to 6.7 billion euros. The reactor construction began in 1987 in socialist times, but was then on ice until 2008. The pressurized water reactor is based on Soviet technology. The fuel rods are from Russia. Only for the future, Slovakia wants to work with the US group Westinghouse and the French company Framatome. The French, however, are counting on Russian participation for nuclear fuel. Produced in Lingen in Lower Saxony, which is met with great criticism there. Breakdowns during earlier boot-up In Slovakia, a large part of the population supports nuclear expansion. Environmentalists in nearby Austria are alarmed. When block 3 was started up, breakdowns occurred in test operation. There was talk of building defects and material defects. "I have to say that it went better this time," says Marta Ziakova, the head of the Slovak nuclear supervisory authority. “We’ve all really learned from it – both the operator and us.” This has led to the fact that there were no delays in Block 4, so Ziakova. Slovakia sees itself as a leader The new nuclear reactor has an output of 471 megawatts. In regular operation from the end of this year, the Meiler is expected to supply around 13 percent of Slovakia’s electricity consumption per year. Prime Minister Robert Fico speaks of a milestone on the way to more energy security and low-emission power sources. Significantly more than 70 percent of electricity currently comes from nuclear power. Even in France, this is now less, Fico said. So Slovakia is the world leader. And I am convinced that our further great ambitions for a new nuclear power plant will make us even more attractive as a nuclear country. New mega-power plant planned Slovakia no longer burns coal, but is dependent on Russia for oil and gas. At the country’s second nuclear site, in Jaslovske Bohunice, the pro-Russia premier is planning a mega-power plant with an output of 1,200 megawatts for the period after 2040. The order is to receive the US company Westinghouse - without a tender. In January, Fico signed a memorandum with US President Donald Trump in Florida. There was criticism from the actually pro-nuclear opposition. The government has neither justified the need nor quantified the costs. Slovakia is heavily indebted and has implemented unpopular austerity measures. However, Fico decided, over and above his Minister of Economy, to bring the project company for the new nuclear power plant completely into state hands. The repurchase of shares from the Czech energy group CEZ cost 189 million euros. State could buy back majority After the commissioning of Mochovce 4, the Slovak state now has the option to regain a majority over the previous nuclear power operator. This is currently held by entrepreneur Daniel Kretinsky. “We would be very happy if Slovakia would make use of its pre-sale right,” said energy expert Karol Galek of the opposition SaS party. But Fico must secure the finances for this. “Not that Slovakia is indebted for 10 or 20 years and only Fico’s friend Kretinsky benefits.” The Czech can use money well for its expansion. In Germany, he is very interested in buying the gas company Uniper