Strengthening of Nuclear Liability Demo

INTRODUCTION The Slovak Republic ranks among those countries, being in favour of further development of nuclear energy in its territory. Historically, the then united Czechoslovakia began to build its first nuclear power plant at Bohunice (now in Slovakia) in 1958. This facility was completed in 1972 and ran until 1977. It was later closed, following a severe accident that occurred during refuelling. The VVER 440 reactors were built at Bohunice in the 1970s and made oper- able in the 1980s. Construction of the present Slovak nuclear power plant at Bohunice started in 1972, with two VVER 440 type 230 reactors (V1 plant) built by the Soviet Atomenergoexport and the Czechoslovak Skoda. Additionally, construction of two type 213 reactors (V2 plant), built by Skoda, began in 1976. In 1981, construction of the four-unit nuclear power plant in Mochovce has begun, using the VVER 440/213 reactor units. With regard to conceptually unclear questions regarding the automatic control of production processes and nuclear safety, completion of Unit 1 (originally planned for 1985) was continually postponed and had not been finished on schedule. Construction of Unit 1 and Unit 2 was completed in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Further two units were originally planned on the site. Work on Units 3 and 4 started in 1986 and halted in 1992. These units remain partially built and have been maintained. Recently, two units are currently in operation in the territory of the Slovak Republic: at the nuclear power plant located in Jaslovské Bohunice (EBO – Atómové elektrárne Bohunice) and another two at the nuclear power plant situated in Mochovce (EMO – Atómové elektrárne Mochovce). Nuclear plants are operated by Slovenské elektrárne, a.s., which is partially owned by the State and by the Italian ENEL. Furthermore, radioactive waste repository is situated in Mochovce and is operated by Jadrová a vyraďovacia spoločnosť, a.s., (JAVYS – Nuclear and Decommissioning Company), which is owned outright by the Slovak Republic. Regarding the future plans for development of nuclear facilities, it can be pointed out that in February 2007 Slovenské elektrárne announced it would proceed with construction of Units 3 and 4 at the Mochovce site. Furthermore, the Slovak government announced plans for a newunit at Bohunice (V3 plant) in April 2008. A public-private partnership is envisaged to build and to own the reactor, with the government holding 51 %. The gov-ernment list of priority power projects, beyond Bohunice V3 plant, includes another nuclear plant at Kecerovce in the eastern part of the country. This is planned to serve after the closure of the Bohunice V2 units, from approxi-mately 2025. However, the Slovak government is well aware of the fact that this proc- ess cannot be limited to a mere multiplication of nuclear facilities, but must be

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