K. Galek: Russia’s participation in the construction of a nuclear source is a gamble with the energy security of Slovakia and the EU
Bratislava – The offer of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, Robert Fico (Smer-SD), at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, for Russia to participate in the construction of a new nuclear source, poses a threat to the energy security of Slovakia and also the EU. This was stated on Wednesday at a press conference by opposition MP Karol Galek (SaS). The former state secretary of the Ministry of Economy criticized the amendment to the Energy Act, which allows the selection of the investor for the new nuclear block directly by the government of the Slovak Republic, TASR reports.
“For me, this is pure gambling with the energy security of Slovakia, but at the same time with the entire European Union, because Slovakia is part of the common electricity market,” said Karol Galek. He added that the EU has long been striving to reduce dependence on Russian energy. How exactly the potential participation of Russian companies in the construction of the block, which is to be initially carried out by the American company Westinghouse, could threaten energy security, Galek did not specify.
The SaS MP does not like that the government plans to select the investor through direct assignment. According to him, a competition should normally be held, in which several investors would compete for this contract under the most favorable conditions for the state. Galek pointed out that ultimately such an investment will be repaid by the people, either in the form of taxes or in electricity prices.
Another problem, according to him, is the estimated cost of the new nuclear block, which, according to published estimates, could reach up to 15 billion euros. He compared this price with the planned completion of two nuclear blocks at the Czech power plant Dukovany, which is estimated to cost around eight billion euros per block. “I ask, where does that difference come from? The Koreans are supposed to do it basically also based on American technology. So something really, really stinks here,” claims Galek.
The schedule for the construction of the new nuclear source with a capacity of over 1000 megawatts in Jaslovské Bohunice is set in such a way that in 2027 the technology will be selected, in 2031 the building permit is to be obtained, and a year later construction is to begin. “So I am convinced that perhaps the government will not even select the investor in the end, but that it will really be during the next government, when it goes through a transparent selection process,” added the MP. (September 10)
“It is pure gambling with the energy security of Slovakia, but at the same time with the entire European Union, because Slovakia is part of the common electricity market.” Karol Galek
