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.

*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

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

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.

The Tennessee Valley Authority partners with ENTRA1 Energy to develop up to 6 gigawatts of modular nuclear capacity, in an unprecedented project supporting energy growth across seven U.S. states.
A report by the International Atomic Energy Agency puts Iran’s 60% enriched uranium at 440.9 kg before Israeli and U.S. strikes, while the agency’s access to enrichment sites has remained suspended since the operations.
US-based Westinghouse has signed six industrial agreements in the UK to supply critical components for its AP1000 and AP300 nuclear projects in Britain and abroad.
NANO Nuclear Energy receives direct funding from the US Air Force innovation branch to assess the integration of its KRONOS MMRâ„¢ microreactor at the Washington D.C. military base.
EDF extends the operation of Heysham 1 and Hartlepool by one year after favourable safety inspections, ensuring continuity of nuclear production and safeguarding more than 1,000 jobs.
Russian nuclear group Rosatom has confirmed advanced discussions with India and Turkey to launch new power plants, including advanced and floating reactor technologies.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has identified uranium particles of industrial origin in samples taken from a Syrian site suspected of hosting an undeclared nuclear reactor.
Norwegian authorities begin the first regulatory phase for two modular nuclear reactor projects, marking a strategic step in the national review of the potential role of nuclear energy in the country’s power mix.
With eleven reactors under construction and major projects such as Jaitapur, India is preparing a nuclear build-up that could place it among the world’s five leading nations in the sector.
France and Germany have validated a joint energy roadmap, including a commitment to the non-discrimination of nuclear energy in European financing.
Russia and Iran seek to strengthen their nuclear cooperation as the E3 activates the sanctions mechanism against Tehran, reigniting tensions over compliance with the 2015 Vienna agreement.
US-based Natura Resources has secured strategic funding and key permits for its MSR-1 nuclear reactor, backed by public funds and enriched fuel allocation from the Department of Energy.
The United States and South Korea have agreed to initiate discussions on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, marking a potential strategic shift in the long-standing bilateral agreement.
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a 40-year extension for the AP1000 reactor design certification, supporting its long-term construction domestically and deployment abroad.
Nano Nuclear Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dioxitek, Argentina’s only uranium supplier for nuclear fuel, to assess the development of local conversion and enrichment capacities.
Stockholm plans to restart uranium extraction by lifting the 2018 ban, aiming to secure strategic supply chains and support domestic nuclear electricity production.
The French Atomic Energy Commission has signed a letter of intent with start-up Calogena to study the installation of a 30 MW thermal small nuclear reactor at its Cadarache site.
A Guidehouse Research report anticipates strong growth in the global nuclear modular reactor market, with revenues rising from $375.8 million in 2025 to $8.1 billion in 2034.
KHNP, Doosan, POSCO and Samsung C&T join US partners to develop 5 GW of modular reactors, expand uranium enrichment and build an 11 GW energy complex in Texas.
The US Department of Energy is creating an industrial consortium to accelerate domestic enriched uranium production and reduce reliance on foreign imports ahead of the Russian supply ban in 2027.

Log in to read this article

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