Slovak Republic

Nuclear power situation

	Number of nuclear units connected to the grid	Nuclear electricity generation (net TWh)	Nuclear percentage of total electricity supply
Slovak Republic	5	14.1	54.9
OECD Europe	145	879.6	25.8
OECD TOTAL	346 (out of 437 worldwide)	2172.5	21.6

Source: Nuclear Energy Data 2008. The complete table for all OECD member countries is also available.

Nuclear power plants: Status and operations

The decision on the orientation of the Slovak power industry in regard to the utilisation of nuclear power plants created in 1970s, was the result of the fact that useable reserves of primary energy resources could not meet the demand for electricity. The construction of the V-1 Bohunice plant (Nuclear Power Plants Bohunice (EBO) Units 1 and 2) both with the V-230 reactor type started in 1972 and the construction of the V-2 Bohunice plant (EBO Units 3 and 4) both with the V-213 reactor type in 1976.

Four nuclear units are in operation in Bohunice, and two in Mochovce with a total capacity of 2.2 GWe. In 1998 the units produced 11.4 TW h and the nuclear share of the electricity production in the Slovak Republic was 55.5% in 2005. The Slovak electric utility that operates the Bohunice nuclear power plant was established in 2002 through a restructuring of Slovenské Elektrárne, a.s. and renamed Slovenské Elektrárne (SE). Two of the Bohunice units are older Soviet-designed VVER-440/230 pressurised water reactors. After an extensive programme for upgrading these units carried out between 1991-2000, bringing them up to international safety standard levels, they are expected to operate until 2015. The two other Bohunice units are the more recently designed VVER-440/213 which incorporate most of safety features of non-Soviet-type reactors. A programme of further safety enhancement of these units has been undertaken in co-operation with Western European companies following the recommendations of the Slovak safety authority and the IAEA, mentioned further in this section.

Based on studies for the further development of nuclear power in the former CSFR and following a lengthy decision making process, the construction of another nuclear power plant with four VVER 440 units, with V-213 type reactors on the Mochovce site (Nuclear Power Plants Mochovce (EMO) Units 1 to 4), started in April 1981. With regard to conceptually non-clarified questions of the automatic control of production processes and nuclear safety, the completion of Unit 1, which was originally planned for 1985, has been gradually postponed and the completion process was not finished on time.

Based on a decision by the Slovak government, the first phase Mochovce Unit 1 was completed in 1998 and Unit 2 in 2000. For the completion of Units 1 and 2, contracts have been signed with the following organisations: Atomenergoexport; Electricité de France; Energoprojekt Prague; EUCOM (Siemens AG, Framatome SA); Hydrostav Bratislava; SKODA Prague; VÚJE Trnava; and Zarubezhatomenergostroj. The Slovak government took over the guarantees for bank loans for the completion of Mochovce Units 1 and 2.

Table 1 presents some basic operating data and Table 2 shows the status of nuclear power plants in the Slovak Republic. The costs of one MW h delivered from EBO 1, 2, 3 and 4 and EMO 1, are calculated including a 10% contribution to the State Fund for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations.

Table 1. Basic Data Of Operating Nuclear Power Plants

Unit	Production in TW h 2001		Load Factor in %		Net Efficiency in %	Own electr. cons. in %	Prod. Loss in TW h	Heat delivered in TJ
Unit	2001	From commiss. till 31.12.01	Annual	Cumulative	Since commissioning		2001	2001
EBO 1	2,624	61,855	67,1	70,1	28,02	7,945	1,231	95
EBO 2	3,150	60,717	81,1	72,7	28,55	7,603	0,705	165
EBO 3	2,914	50,558	75,2	77,0	29,03	7,232	0,935	799
EBO 4	3,020	48,705	78,1	78,2	29,00	7,114	0,834	754
EMO 1	2,630	9,340	68,35	68,91	29,34	8,36	1,227	148
EMO 2	2,761	5,647	71,65	71,97	29,04	8,13	1,093	144
Total			-		-

Prod. Loss EMO (gross) = P+U+O, TWh according to WANO PI	P - planned	U - unplanned	O - other	Cumulative Loss
EMO 1	0,890	0,074	0,263	1,227
EMO 2	0,651	0,208	0,234	1,093

Source: Country Information

These costs are approximately half compared with the costs of the coal-burning steam power plants in the Slovak Republic. The costs of fossil plants represent more than SKK 1000 per one MW h delivered on average. From the total electricity generated in the Solvak Republic in 2005, nuclear power plants generated 55.5%.

Table 2. Status of Nuclear Power Plants

Station	Type	Capacity	Operator	Status	Reactor Supplier	Construction Date	Criticality Date	Grid Date	Commercial Date	Shutdown Date
BOHUNICE-1	VVER	408	EBO	Operational	AEE	01-Apr-74	27-Nov-78	17-Dec-78	01-Apr-80	31-Dec-06
BOHUNICE-2	VVER	408	EBO	Operational	AEE	01-Apr-74	15-Mar-80	26-Mar-80	01-Jan-81
BOHUNICE-3	VVER	408	EBO	Operational	SKODA	01-Dec-76	08-Aug-84	20-Aug-84	14-Feb-85
BOHUNICE-4	VVER	408	EBO	Operational	SKODA	01-Dec-76	02-Aug-85	09-Aug-85	18-Dec-85
MOCHOVCE-1	VVER	388	EMO	Operational	SKODA	01-Oct-83	09-Jun-98	04-Jul-98	13-Oct-98
MOCHOVCE-2	VVER	388	EMO	Operational	SKODA	01-Oct-83	01-Dec-99	20-Dec-99	11-Apr-00
MOCHOVCE-3	VVER	388	EMO	Construction Postponed	SKODA	01-Jan-85
MOCHOVCE-4	VVER	388	EMO	Construction Postponed	SKODA	01-Jan-85
A-1 BOHUNICE	HWGCR	110	EBO	Under Decommissioning	SKODA	01-Jan-58	01-Jan-72	01-Oct.-72	01-Dec-72	17-May-79

Source: IAEA Power Reactor Information System as of 31 December 2002.

Backfitting of existing nuclear power plants

Reactor Type V-1

2x440 MW VVER V-230

Based on recommendations from the IAEA and EU experts, the "small backfitting" of V-1 was carried out between 1991 and 1992, at a cost of SKK 2 million, and mainly focused on:

improving confinement integrity;
upgrading seismic resistance;
analysing reactor pressure vessel life;
backfitting fire protection systems;
annealing reactor pressure vessels;
installing another diesel generator and new distributions of essential power supply; and
verifying validity of the "leak before break" (LBB) principle of the reactor coolant system.

The implementation of these actions was a prerequisite for the operation of the V-1 plant until 1995. According to the Slovak Republic Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ÚJD SR) Decision No.1/94, the prerequisite for further operation after 1995 was to implement a "gradual upgrading" programme between 1996-2000 at a cost of SKK 8 billion. The content of the gradual upgrade was as follows:

further improvement of confinement integrity;
modifications of core cooling during both operation and loss-of-coolant accidents;
modifications of emergency power supply for cooling systems, and of instrumentation and control systems; and
enhancement of the levels of quality assurance, safety, operating procedures, documents for personnel training, and emergency planning.

The implementation of the gradual upgrading was completed in line with the schedule approved by the ÚJD SR. The V-1 nuclear safety programme thus achieved the level acceptable for early nuclear power plants according to both the IAEA and WENRA reviews. During negotiations on Slovak accession to the EU, the Slovak government agreed to close the V-1 unit 1 in 2006 and the V-1 unit 2 in 2008.

Reactor Type V-2

EBO - 2 x 440 MW VVER 213

A similar programme will be implemented with the objective to upgrade V-2 seismic resistance and nuclear safety, focused mainly on:

modification of the reactor coolant system, essential power supply, instrumentation and control system;
strengthening of seismic resistance;
improving of fire protection efficiency; and
enhancement of the levels of quality assurance, safety, operating procedures, documents for personnel training, and emergency planning.

The ultimate goal for V-2 is to establish conditions for extending its life up to 40 years, until 2025.

EMO - 2 x 440 MW VVER 213

The ÚJD SR issued operating licenses for the Mochovce Units 1 and 2.

Current organisational chart

Figure 1 shows the structure of institutions involved in the Slovak nuclear power sector.

Figure 1. Slovak Institutions involved in the nuclear sector

Supply of nuclear power plants

The main domestic producer and supplier of selected components for nuclear power plant pressure systems (separators, piping) is the Slovak Power Engineering Works (SES) in Tlmace and the Piping Company in Kosice. The supplier of civil construction works is Hydrostav Bratislava.

The main foreign suppliers are Atomenergoexport (Russia), SKODA and EGP (Czech Republic). The well-known Western firms (EdF and Framatome) co-operated with the Slovak Republic during the Mochovce completion and the Bohunice upgrading.

Operation of nuclear power plants

The owner of the Bohunice and Mochovce plants is the utility Slovak Electric (SE). The operators of these six units are SE affiliates Nuclear Power Plants Bohunice (EBO) and Nuclear Power Plants Mochovce (EMO). EBO have built their own technical and professional capacities for the performance of maintenance activities. Specialised activities are ordered by EBO and EMO from manufacturers of certain components, or from specialised firms. The training of nuclear personnel, namely operators, maintenance and decommissioning personnel, is carried out by the training center in the VÚJE Trnava, Inc.'s - Engineering, Design and Research Organisation. VÚJE performs the professional, practical and theoretical training of nuclear power plant personnel in six categories based on the Certificate No. 1/94 from the ÚJD SR. Category 1 is designed for selected personnel, for example operators, control physicists and reactor unit supervisors. Following successful graduation from the theoretical and practical training, trainees obtain certificates. For the performance of certain functions, Category 1 personnel have to obtain a ÚJD license that has to be renewed every two or three years depending on the function.

Fuel cycle and waste management

Procurement of new nuclear fuel

All the fuel for the operation of the six VVER-440 units in Slovakia has been fabricated in the Russian Federation and delivered by a monopolist Russian supplier. The supplier takes care of the provision of natural uranium, its conversion and enrichment. No diversification is currently planned in the procurement of new fuel for the needs of the Slovak nuclear sector.

Newer generation VVER-440/213 units at Bohunice V-2 and Mochovce have been converted to use advanced fuel with higher enrichment (3.82%) and higher burn-up qualities (the fuel will stay in the reactor for about five years). This will result in a reduction of annual consumption of fuel to 84 assemblies (10 tU/year). Fuel storage on plant sites is maintained at the level corresponding to six month operation at the rated power level.

Management of spent fuel

By the end of 2000, the six Slovak VVER-440 units had produced 7 300 spent fuel assemblies. Of this amount, approximately 700 assemblies were exported to the Russian Federation, 1 200 were cooled down in pools adjacent to the reactors, and 5 400 pieces were stored in a wet interim spent fuel storage facility at the Bohunice site. This facility was extensively refurbished during 1997-2000. The refurbishment resulted also in a capacity increase from 5 000 to 14 000 fuel assemblies (or 1 680 tU). This capacity is sufficient for the fuel storage needs of both Bohunice (until its expected closure) and of Mochovce until 2015. By this time, it will be necessary to build a new storage facility at the Mochovce site. Current intentions are that the facility will be based on dry storage technology.

The fundamental conception for back end fuel cycle management remains unchanged. It is still expected that spent fuel will be ultimately disposed of, in a deep underground geological repository. Activities on the selection of an adequate site are continuing.

Treatment disposal of radioactive waste

The total amount of radioactive waste from the past operation of the Bohunice units is currently stored temporarily on site. The concepts of radioactive waste management, from nuclear power installations and other organisations using sources of ionisation radiation, were prepared in 1993. The following production process fixing facilities have been constructed or are currently being built:

a bitumenization facility for fixing concentrates was commissioned in 1995;
a vitrification facility is in the stage of active comprehensive testing; and
the Bohunice Radioactive Waste Conditioning Centre consisting of cementation, incineration, high-pressure compaction and evaporation facilities was granted an operating licence in 2001.

All low- and medium-level radioactive waste from Bohunice will be stored in fiber-concrete containers. To make the system of radioactive waste management complete, it was necessary to commission the operation of a disposal facility for low- and medium-level radioactive waste at the Mochovce site in 2000.

Material and financial provisions for radioactive waste management

A new plant at the SE utility, the Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations and Management of Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel (SE-VYZ), commenced activities on 1 January 1996. The new plant is located on the site of the Bohunice nuclear power plants. Its field of activities is spread over the whole of Slovakia. It will be responsible for the ultimate disposal of all kinds of radioactive waste and spent fuel that have been and will be produced in the Slovak Republic, from the operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants, as well as for early and complete preparation of designs and facilities for the execution of the above mentioned activities. Besides this, the new plant will provide the disposal of institutional radioactive waste from other organisations. The plant activities will be financed from the budget of the SE utility and from the State Fund for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations and Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste. This fund was established in 1995. The money has been accumulated from contributions resulting from a 10% contribution from the selling price of electricity, paid by nuclear power plants. The payment of this contribution is the responsibility of the nuclear power plant owner. From this fund, it is possible to take finances for the preparation and decommissioning of nuclear power installations, and for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste related to nuclear power installation decommissioning, provided that approval from the Board of the State Fund for Decommissioning is given.

According to the projected electricity supply from nuclear power plants in Slovakia, the contributions to the State Fund for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations and Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste should provide approximately SKK 30.8 billion by 2010 including an interest rate of 6%. This amount should be sufficient according to calculations performed for the following work to be carried out: the construction of a long-term spent fuel storage installation with the costs of approximately SKK 4.2 billion; the decommissioning of the V-1 plant following the completion of its economic life (about 10.0 billion Sk); and for other investment actions in the field. The establishment of the State Fund for Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Installations and Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste should advance to a state where the decommissioning of nuclear power installations and management of radioactive waste is assured by its finances without any additional demands on the state budget of the Slovak Republic or other sources of SE.

For additional information on the Slovak Republic's radioactive waste management programme please see the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency's Radioactive Waste Management Programmes in OECD/NEA Member Countries.

Research and development

The goal of the Slovak Republic's nuclear research and development complex is to establish a research and development basis for the state authorities, manufacturers and suppliers of process equipment for nuclear power installations as well as for nuclear power plant operators. Regarding its structure, it includes basic research which is concentrated in the Slovak Academy of Sciences and to a lesser extent in universities, and applied research to a larger extent including the activities of independent research institutes (share-holding companies and companies with limited responsibilities) and sections of industrial organisations (see Table 3).

Regarding financial aspects, the applied research is ensured by:

state orders projects;
scientific and technical projects; and
orders from manufacturers and supplier organisations, as well as from the operators of nuclear power installations.

International co-operation and initiatives

In the field of international co-operation, the most significant nuclear co-operation is: with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna; with the European Union within the PHARE programs and the 6th Framework Program (EURATOM); and bilateral co-operation with international institutions and organisations. Slovakia co-operates through the IAEA with other countries on subjects such as:

research projects financed from a fund for technical co-operation;
national projects within the framework of coordinated research with financial support from the IAEA; and the
organisation of international courses and seminars.

International co-operation with the EU goes within the framework of research and development programs of the European Community focused mainly on the 5th Framework Program and PHARE programs. The PHARE programs in the field of nuclear safety relating to the EU are co-ordinated by the Slovak Ministry of the Economy.

The Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic (ÚJD SR) is a participant in discussions on regional and national programmes in the field of nuclear safety. The national projects in this field, have been addressed since 1993 as regional ones in order to use the funds more effectively.

Table 3. Slovak Technical Support Organisations in the Nuclear Sector

Institution Name	Headquarters	Number of employees							Area of activity
Institution Name	Headquarters	1992	1993	1994	1995	1998	2000	2001	Area of activity
VÚJE Trnava	Trnava	543	462	434	420	612	633	612	Nuclear Safety, in-service inspection, plant commissioning and operation, personnel training, radiation safety
Research Institute of Welding (VUZ)	Bratislava	545	392	368	347	349	336	330	Welding technology, equipment and materials, preparation of personnel, in-service inspections-only partly for nuclear power plants
Research Institute of Cables and Insulating Materials (VUKI)	Bratislava	235	202	202	188	163	125	125	Cables with reduced flammability radiation-resistant cables, testing of cables, residual life time of cables
Power Equipment Research Institute (VÚEZ)	Levice	118	109	106	106	150	146	146	Tests of containments, sealing, condensation systems, safety system design, filtration and ventilation
Power Research Institute (EGU)	Bratislava	86	76	35	35	35	28	25	Integrity and lifetime of RPV, tubes, antiseismic upgrading, thermal loading, economical aspects
Institute of Clinical and Preventive Medicine-Dept. of Hygiene of Radiation	Bratislava	28	30	30	30	11	11	9	Personal dosimetry, radiation monitoring, protective barriers, radon, protection of patient and personal in medicine
CSA and EBO	Trnava	25	30	32	27	32	26	25	3-D model database of nuclear facilities, structural analysis digital archives
National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NUHE) Dept. for radiation protection	Bratislava	25	24	23	24	22	23	22	Expertise for radiation protection, state supervision in the field of radiation protection and nuclear safety
DECOM	Trnava	8	12	15	15	20	22	22	Preliminary projects for decommissioning, radioactive waste management decontamination
VUPEX	Bratislava	23	9	8	6	7	5	8	Technical-economical studies
RELKO	Bratislava		-	6	6	10	10	10	Reliability analysis, PSA studies, impact of external events
ALLDECO	Trnava	12	14	14	17	22	30	37	Decontamination technology and equipment
MERIT	Trnava	2	4	6	6	4	2	2	Radiation protection, dosimetry, monitoring, calculations of radiation fields
Institute of Radioecology	Kosice	not avail.	20	15	15	6	1	0	Radiological impact on environment, releases, decontamination
TOTAL		1650	1393	1297	1242	1443	1398	1373

Source: Country Information

The bases for bilateral co-operation are intergovernmental agreements, of which some have been transformed to reflect the the status of Slovakia as an independent state. Bilateral co-operation has been widely developed, and examples include:

the establishment of the REKON consortium (VÚJE and SIEMENS) for the V-1 gradual safety upgrading;
the co-operation with BABCOCK in the design and implementation of control systems for coal-burning power plants;
the solution of research, development and technical problems together with:

Historical development and current nuclear power organisational structure

A-1 Bohunice:

1956 Intergovernmental agreement between the former USSR and CSSR on the construction of an industrial-research nuclear power plant on the territory of CSSR.
1957 Establishment of an investment enterprise Nuclear Power Plant A-1 by the decision of the Governmental Committee for Nuclear Energy and of the Authority for Nuclear Power Management.
1958 Beginning of A-1 construction.
1972 The research and development reactor KS 150 at A-1 reached criticality. Gradual increase of the electric output up to the maximum value of 127 MW. Connection of A-1 to the electric grid.
1976 First serious incident at the KS-150 reactor.
1977 The decisive severe accident during reactor refuelling.
1978 Decision of CSSR government to decommission A-1.
1992 Slovak government accepted the global concepts of A-1 decommissioning.
1998 Expected to bring A-1 into safe radiation conditions (The first phase ending in 2007).
2007 Completion of the first phase of A-1 decommissioning.

V-1 Bohunice:

1969 Decision of the State Planning Commission of CSSR based on an agreement with USSR to start the construction of nuclear power plants with pressurized water reactors of VVER 440 type.
1970 Decision of CSSR and USSR governments to supply two nuclear power plants each with two VVER reactors 440 MW.
1971 Establishment of affiliated organization in Jaslovské Bohunice.
1973 Laying of foundation stone for the construction of main production building.
1978 V-1 Unit 1 reactor made critical.
1979 Commissioning of V-1 Unit 1 into trial operation.
1980 Commissioning of V-1 Unit 1 into commercial operation. V-1 Unit 2 reactor made critical. Commissioning of V-1 Unit 2 into trial operation.
1981 Commissioning of V-1 Unit 2 into commercial operation.
1984 Re-evaluation of V-1 safety.
1986 Other safety measures to enhance nuclear safety.
1990 Execution of reviews to evaluate V-1 conditions.
1991 CSKAE Decision about V-1 operation based on implementation of additional safety measures.
1991-1995 Implementation of Phase 1 measures to upgrade safety by backfitting V-1 units.
1995-2000 Implementation of Phase 2 measures with the objective to achieve European standards and maintain V-1 in operation.

V-2 Bohunice:

1976 Agreement signed with USSR on the construction of V-2 in Jaslovské Bohunice. Beginning of V-2 construction.
1984 V-2 Unit 1 reactor made critical. Commissioning of V-2 Unit 1 into trial operation.
1985 Commissioning of V-2 Unit 1 into commercial operation. V-2 Unit 2 reactor made critical. Commissioning of V-2 Unit 2 into trial operation. Commissioning of V-2 Unit 2 into commercial operation.
2000 Concept of modernization with safety upgrading.

Mochovce:

1974 Preparatory studies, survey works, sociology survey.
1978 Federal Ministry of Fuel and Power approved an investment intention to construct two twin-reactor units with the capacity of 440 MW each.
1981 Physical start of Mochovce construction.
1983 Establishment of a concern enterprise Atomic Power Plants Mochovce with its headquarters in Mochovce.
1989 The original deadline for Mochovce Unit 1 commissioning failed to be met due to necessary replacement of inadequate instrumentation and control system.
1995 The way of funding the construction of Mochovce Units 1 and 2 was still open, construction and installation works continued in a minimum extent only. (The funding of Mochovce completion was resolved by the Government Decision No.339/96 dated May 14,1996).
1998 Unit 1 reactor reached criticality. Commissioning of Unit 1 into trial operation.
1999 Unit 2 reactor reached criticality.
2000 Commissioning of Unit 2 into trial operation. Completion of units 3 and 4 suspended since 1994.

National laws and regulations

For additional information on national laws and regulations concerning nuclear power please see the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency's Analytical Study of Nuclear Legislation in OECD countries.

Safety authority and the licensing process

The Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ÚJD) of the Slovak Republic was established in 1993 as an independent state regulatory body which reports directly to the government and is directed by a chairperson appointed by the Government. It is responsible for regulation and supervision of nuclear energy (mainly concerning the safety of nuclear installations, radioactive waste management and transportation of nuclear materials).

The ÚJD is also responsible for issuing authorisations for the siting, design, construction, importation, commissioning, operation and reconstruction of nuclear installations and their decommissioning. The governing regime for the different stages of service life of a nuclear installation has been strengthened by the Atomic Act adopted on 9 September 2004.

Main national laws and regulations governing nuclear power

Current issues and developments

Energy policy

The results of a survey carried out in Slovakia concerning the public opinion of the use of nuclear energy are shown in figure 2. The data is based on the results of a standard survey by Gallup questionnaire on a selected sample of 1 037 people from the population above 18 years in 1995. Approximately 46% of the selected population indicated that they were in favour of nuclear power and approximately 44% were against.

Figure 2. Results of Survey on the Use of Nuclear Energy

Appendix 1 - International, Multilateral and Bilateral Agreements

Appendix 2 - Directory of the main organisations, instituions and companies involved in nuclear power-related activites

References

Related NEA publications

Nuclear Energy Data
Nuclear Energy Data is the NEA’s annual compilation of essential statistics on electricity generation and nuclear power in OECD countries. The reader will have quick and easy reference to the status of and projected trends in total electricity generating capacity, nuclear generating capacity, and actual electricity production, as well as to supply and demand for nuclear fuel cycle services.

This is an edited extract from the IAEA Country Nuclear Power Profiles. The complete entry is available from the IAEA.

Last updated: 20 June 2007

Slovak Republic

Nuclear power situation

National laws and regulations

Current issues and developments

Nuclear power situation

Nuclear power plants: Status and operations

Backfitting of existing nuclear power plants

Current organisational chart

Supply of nuclear power plants

Operation of nuclear power plants

Fuel cycle and waste management

Procurement of new nuclear fuel

Management of spent fuel

Treatment disposal of radioactive waste

Material and financial provisions for radioactive waste management

Research and development

International co-operation and initiatives

Historical development and current nuclear power organisational structure

National laws and regulations

Safety authority and the licensing process

Main national laws and regulations governing nuclear power

Current issues and developments

Energy policy

Related links

Related NEA publications