Serbia plans procurement for prelim study on civil nuclear energy use

Representatives of French state-owned energy giant Electricite de France (EDF) have already expressed interest in participating in the planned procedure, Djedovic Handanovic said in a statement on Monday.

She noted that the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan, which the government is preparing, is examining the potential for introducing nuclear power in Serbia's national mix. According to her, a public debate on the amendments of the country's energy law will take place in the summer.

Only after Serbia amends its legislation to regulate the use of nuclear energy, will it be able to start considering the development of a nuclear energy programme, in line with the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Djedovic Handanovic stressed.

She added that the government has already laid the foundations for adopting an estimate of the potential for implementing a nuclear power programme based on the country specific needs and possibilities.

In April, Serbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EDF on establishing long-term cooperation in the field of energy transition and low-carbon technology, which creates conditions for a strategic partnership with EDF in assessing the potential for the development of the civil nuclear programme in Serbia. The agreement includes support for the development of professional personnel and the exchange of technical knowledge.

In March, Serb president Aleksandar Vucic said that Serbia is interested in getting at least four small modular reactors (SMRs) in order to boost its energy capacities in the future. He has said that Serbia needs to get financial support and expertise from the leading European states in other to fulfill these plans.