18 Dec (NucNet): The Slovak government has chosen Czech utility CEZ as its strategic partner in proposals to construct a new nuclear unit on the site of the existing Bohunice nuclear plant in western Slovakia.
According to the proposals, the new unit should begin to produce electricity in 2020. While CEZ will be the strategic partner, the state will retain a controlling interest.
The Slovak Nuclear Society said preliminary estimates indicate that construction of the new unit will cost from four to six billion euro (5.8 to 8.7 billion US dollars). Slovakia’s economy minister Lubomir Jahnatek said definitive costs will be known from the results of a feasibility study expected in mid 2010.
Slovakia has five commercially operational reactor units: three at Bohunice and two at Mochovce. In 2006 Slovakia permanently shut down unit 1 at Bohunice in line with commitments made before Slovakia joined the EU in May 2004. Unit 2 is scheduled to shut down by the end of 2008.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Work Resumes On Completion of Slovakia’s Mochovce-3 and -4 (News No. 87, 4 November 2008)
Slovakia Closes Bohunice Unit On Schedule (News No. 2, 2 January 2007)
