Nuclear power in Slovakia

Slovakia has five operational nuclear reactors, with a combined net power capacity of 2,308 MWe, with a sixth coming on line shortly.

Slovakia’s nuclear energy development has been driven by political strategy and economic necessity rather than purely technical factors.

During the communist era, Czechoslovakia sought energy independence from Western imports, leading to the construction of the Bohunice A1 reactor in the 1960s.

However, a major accident in 1977 forced its shutdown, prompting the government to rely on Soviet-designed VVER reactors at Bohunice NPP V1 and V2, reflecting the country’s strong political and economic ties to the Soviet Union.

[4] By the late 1980s, the government initiated the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant project to further strengthen energy security.

However, as Slovakia pursued EU membership, political pressure mounted to shut down older Soviet-era reactors.

Despite domestic opposition, Slovakia agreed to close Bohunice V1 in the 2000s as part of EU accession negotiations, marking a controversial shift influenced by international politics rather than national energy needs.

[2] Enel, an Italian power company and 50% shareholder of Slovenske Elektrarne, initially planned an investment of €1.6 billion for the completion of the MNPP units 3 and 4 by 2011–2012.

[8] Slovakia is also talking to France's Framatome to work together on the development of a nuclear fuel for VVER-440 pressurised water reactors.

The closure of these units, prior to the completion of two new reactors has left the country short on power and Slovakia became an energy importer after the first plant was shut down.