Serbia on the go: nuclear power with SMRs in the spotlight!

Serbia on the go: nuclear power with SMRs in the spotlight!

Serbien, Serbien - On May 15, 2025, the Serbian government commissioned the French energy group Edf to examine the perspectives for the start of Serbia into nuclear power production together with another company. Both reactors of the old class 3+ and modern small modular reactors (SMRs) are on the agenda. This is done against the background that Serbia has had a moratorium for nuclear energy since 1989 and that the considerations for the cancellation of this moratorium are now becoming more specific.

like ÖKONEWS there are concerns about energy policy in Serbia and their possible effects on the population as well as the economic development of the country. The situation is also influenced by the fact that the Flamanville nuclear power plant in France, after initial test runs, is still limited in its performance. Although the reactor was connected to the national power grid on December 21, 2024 and has previously produced 100 MW, commissioning remains problematic.

challenges at Flamanville

according to Edf the first nuclear reaction was reached on September 3, 2024, followed by extensive tests that should gradually increase the performance of the reactor. Luc Rémont, CEO of Edf, described the connection as a historical moment, but the final achievement of 100 percent performance and the subsequent maintenance periods are waited. The situation at the location shows the challenges in the development of new nuclear power projects that require a high security standard.

In connection with the considerations of nuclear power production in Serbia, President Aleksandar Vučić has had talks with British civil servants in order to achieve greater support from the UK Export Finance (UKEF). This applies not only to the planned introduction of SMRs, but also investments in renewable energies, which could diversify the Serbian energy strategy. Vučić has also expressed concerns about future electricity consumption that could increase significantly in the coming years.

international cooperation and development

like Balkan Green Energy News , talks are also in the go with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) via the bistrica pump memory power plant. These multilateral discussions and technological developments in the field of nuclear energy reflect the trend that many countries in Southeast Europe want to rethink and modernize their nuclear energy infrastructure. Despite high interest rates, Vučić emphasizes the efficiency and speed of cooperation with Ukef.

Overall, the Serbian government's investigation into nuclear power production shows a clear tendency to rely on new innovative technologies such as SMRs in order to meet the increasing energy requirements and at the same time carefully weigh the potential risks of a new atomic energy policy.