SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Slovakia close to deal with Westinghouse for nuclear reactor construction

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announced being close to an intergovernmental agreement with Washington for Westinghouse to build a 1,250-megawatt nuclear reactor at the Jaslovske Bohunice site.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90€/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99€/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

Slovakia is nearing an agreement with the United States to entrust American company Westinghouse Electric Company with the construction of a new nuclear reactor in the country. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that negotiations between Bratislava and Washington are progressing towards a final agreement enabling the initiation of construction works on this high-capacity reactor at the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant.

A project of national importance

According to details provided by the head of government, the reactor proposed by Westinghouse will have an installed capacity of 1,250 megawatts (MW). Although the Prime Minister did not disclose the exact amount of the contract, a previous estimation by the Slovak Ministry of Economy assessed the potential cost at €10 billion ($11.57bn). This investment fits into Slovakia’s broader national plans to significantly strengthen its nuclear capacities to address the projected increase in electricity consumption over the coming decades.

Strengthening energy capacities

Slovakia currently operates five nuclear reactors spread across two sites, with production capacity already surpassing annual domestic consumption since 2023. This achievement was notably due to the commissioning by Slovenske Elektrarne of a 472 MW reactor at the Mochovce site. Slovenske Elektrarne, majority-controlled by the Czech energy group Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH), also includes a 34% stake held by the Slovak state.

Planned nuclear expansion

Additionally, Slovenske Elektrarne is currently completing the construction of another reactor at Mochovce. The Jaslovske Bohunice plant, where the new Westinghouse reactor would be built, already houses two operational units of 505 MW each. Last year, the Slovak government approved plans to build an additional unit, intended to be state-owned and operational by 2040.

This initiative reflects the clear intention of Slovak authorities to reinforce nuclear energy’s position within its long-term energy mix. The proposed agreement with Westinghouse directly aligns with this ambitious energy strategy defined by Bratislava.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Washington pushes higher biodiesel quotas to support soybean producers
Canada injects CAD22mn to boost battery sector with eight domestic projects
Energy Fuels raises $700mn through convertible notes to support project expansion
Australia: Government excludes hydrogen and used oils from bioenergy strategy
Queensland coal mining costs remain high despite falling prices
Framatome launches dedicated line for military nuclear propulsion in Jeumont
Framatome and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission have commissioned a specialised industrial line in Jeumont for the manufacturing of nuclear components used in French Navy vessels.
Terra Innovatum signs two strategic agreements to accelerate deployment of its modular reactor
Italian company Terra Innovatum is advancing the commercialisation of its SOLO micro-reactor, with two new partnerships and $42.5mn in funding as part of a merger with a listed company.
Orano, Navoiyuran and ITOCHU launch uranium mining at South Djengeldi site
The Nurlikum Mining joint venture enters a new industrial phase with the launch of the South Djengeldi project, targeting annual production of 500 tonnes of uranium over ten years in Uzbekistan.
Russian strike cuts power to Chernobyl site, reigniting nuclear safety concerns
The containment structure over Chernobyl’s destroyed reactor lost power after a Russian strike, as Zaporizhzhia remains cut off from external electricity for over a week.
U.S. uranium purchases reach 55.9 million pounds in 2024
Uranium deliveries to U.S. civilian operators rose 8% in 2024, while the average price climbed to its highest level since 2012, according to the latest available data.
Medvedev announces the rise of public investment in nuclear and AI
The Vice-Chairman of Russia’s Security Council believes more countries will develop nuclear weapons and generative AI technologies as a result of increasing public sector efforts.
Orano wins legal case in uranium dispute over Somaïr site
An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.
Oklo and Blykalla form transatlantic alliance on modular reactor development
US-based Oklo and Sweden’s Blykalla join forces to coordinate supply chains and regulatory data sharing to accelerate the commercial deployment of their metal-cooled small modular reactors.
EDF to invest €25bn to strengthen nuclear capacity by 2030
EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
EDF nuclear costs kept under control until 2028 according to CRE
The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.
Bulgaria begins talks for the deployment of small modular reactors
The Ministry of Energy will initiate talks with developers of small nuclear reactors after signing a cooperation agreement with the United States to conduct preliminary studies on their deployment.
EDF pushes back Flamanville EPR restart to 17 October
The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.
Natural uranium will be sufficient to fuel nuclear reactors until 2100
The International Atomic Energy Agency says known natural uranium reserves will meet global nuclear power plant demand for the rest of the century, despite price pressures.
Rosatom will finalise field studies for Kazakhstan’s nuclear power plant in 2025
Site selection for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant enters an advanced technical phase, with more than 100 experts mobilised by Rosatom to conduct complex geological and seismic analyses.
ICSID blocks the sale of SOMAÏR uranium by the State of Niger
The ICSID arbitral tribunal ordered Niger to suspend any sale of uranium produced by SOMAÏR, ruling that this material falls under Orano’s contractual rights, amid a dispute with the State that has lasted for several months.
TNC partners with Nucor to strengthen US nuclear supply chain by 2050
US-based TNC has entered into a strategic agreement with Nucor Corporation to expand gigawatt-scale nuclear capacity in line with federal targets of 400 GW by 2050.
Framatome and ENEA join forces to develop lunar nuclear reactors
Framatome and Italian agency ENEA have signed an agreement to design nuclear reactors capable of powering future human settlements on the Moon, amid growing European ambitions in space.
X-energy confirms feasibility of high-temperature modular reactor in Alberta
A technical report backed by the Government of Alberta confirms the potential of the Xe-100 reactor to meet the province’s industrial and electrical energy needs.
IAEA warns of drone activity near Ukrainian nuclear facilities
Drones were detected within 500 metres of the South Ukraine nuclear power plant, while Zaporizhzhia remains without off-site power.
Putin calls for new financing models for global nuclear energy
At World Atomic Week in Moscow, the Russian president advocated for a reform of civil nuclear funding mechanisms, urging stronger involvement from multilateral financial institutions.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.

[wc_register_modal]