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| Fig. 1: Share of nuclear power in Slovakian electricity generation. [1] (Source: M. Atkin) |
As of December 31, 2021, Slovakia has 4 nuclear power plants in operation: Bohuniche-3, Bohuniche-4, Mochovche-1, and Mochovche-2. [1] All of them have roughly similar net capacities: Bohuniche-3 and Bohuniche-4 have net capacities of 466 MW (megawatts), Mochovce-1 has a net capacity of 467 MW, and Mochovce-2 has a net capacity of 469 MW. [1] All of these plants are based on the VVER V213 model, a Russian design. [2]
As of December 31, 2021, Slovakia produced 14.65 TWh (terawatt-hours) through nuclear power plants. [1] This accounts for 52.3% of the country's total electricity capacity. [1] Fig. 1 shows the share of electricity production taken up by nuclear power plants in Slovakia between 1995 and 2020. We can see a major jump in the share of nuclear power from 1995 to 2000, followed by smaller fluctuations. This makes sense, because Mochovche-1 and Mochovche-2 were completed in 1998 and 2000, respectively, and between 2000 and 2020 no new power plant was completed. [1]
All of Slovakia's nuclear power plants are operated by Slovenské Elektrárne, a utility company co-owned by the Slovak government, Enel S.p.A., an Italian multinational energy company, and EPH, a Czech energy investor. [2] Slovenské Elektrárne makes a profit through electricity trading. [3] In particular, it sells electricity through Energy Exchange Europe (EEX) and the Slovak spot market. [3] Slovenské Elektrárne uses fuel exclusively from TVEL, a Russian state-owned company. [4] Recently, Slovakia has taken steps to diversify away from TVEL. [4] In August 2023, Slovenské Elektrárne signed an agreement with Westinghouse Electric, a U.S. private company, to supply fuel. [4] Nuclear waste for all of the plants is disposed of by JAVYS, a Slovakian state-owned company. [3]
Construction of Mochovce-3 and Mochovce-4 began in January 1987. [1] Work was paused in the 1990s, but has since resumed. [5] According to Reuters, the cost of Mochovce-3 and Mochovce-4 to date is €5.7 billion. [5] To account for increased spending, the Slovakian government, led by leftist Robert Fico, has propsed raising taxes. [6] Specifically, Fico has propsed increased taxes on high earners, and on alcohol and tobacco. He has also proposed increasing taxes on real estate, especially second and third homes. [6]
In October 2022, Mochove-3 reached a sustained chain reaction state. [2] According to Slovenské Elektrárne, once in operation, Mochove-3 will produce around 3.7 TWh (terawatt-hours) per year. [2] This will cover 13% of Slovakia's electricity consumption. [2] Both Mochove-3 and Mochove-4 are the same VVER V213 model with the same net capacity of 440 MW, so combined the plants will cover over a quarter of Slovakian electricity consumption. [1]
© Michael Atkin. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.
[1] "Nuclear Power Reactors in the World, 2022 Edition," International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA-RDS-2.42, June 2022.
[2] J. Lopatka, "New Slovak Nuclear Plant Moves Closer to Launch," Reuters, 24 Oct 22.
[3] A. Brunnengräber et al., eds, Challenges of Nuclear Waste Governance: An International Comparison, Volume II (Springer, 2018).
[4] J. Lopatka, "Slovenské Elektrárne Picks Westinghouse to Diversify From Russian Fuel Supplies," Reuters, 25 Aug 23.
[5] J. Lopatka, "Slovakia's Mochovce Plant Moves Closer to Starting New Reactor," Reuters, 13 May 21.
[6] J. Lopatka, "New Slovak Government Eyes Tax, Spending Hikes, Slow Deficit Reduction," Reuters, 13 Nov 23.