News from Slovakia: International conference - Secure Energy Supply 2008

The Slovak Nuclear Society, together with the Slovak Nuclear Forum, recently organised its fifth regional conference, SES2008, devoted to the hot topic of A Secure Energy Supply. The conference, entitled It’s time for a Strategic Decision on Slovakia’s Energy Future - Lets think about it, took place the Slovak capital, Bratislava, from October 1 to 3 2008, under the auspices of the Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico. More than 100 experts and key players in the energy market, including 14 representatives from abroad, participated.

Fig. SES 2008-1: Participants of SES 2008

In preparing the conference programme, Slovak Nuclear Society we sought to put together a balanced mix of presentations from Slovakia and other countries. We addressed the most important Slovak institutions that are active in energy market, as well as representatives from neighboring countries and important nuclear suppliers. Our goal was to emphasise dialogue, since good and open communications and a mutual willingness to listen and understand each other are urgently needed in Slovakia.

The discussions were aimed at two very important strategic documents:

• The Slovak Republic’s energy security strategy

• A strategy for the back end of nuclear electricity production

Fig. SES 2008-2: From the left: Vladimir Slugen - SNUS President, Paolo Ruzzini - CEO of Slovenske elektrarne - Enel, Ivan Gasparovic - President of Slovak Republic, Tibor Mikus - President of Slovak Nuclear Forum

Both these strategies will define the conditions and legislative framework governing the development of Slovakia’s nuclear power sector.

A new nuclear unit in Slovakia was the main idea that resonated during the conference and the problems associated with the construction of a new unit were discussed.

Fig. SES 2008-3: From the left: Vladimir Slugen - SNUS President, Paolo Ruzzini - CEO of utility Slovenske elektrarne - Enel, Ivan Gasparovic - President of Slovak Republic, Tibor Mikus - President of Slovak Nuclear Forum, Milan Blaha - co-author of the book “Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant – How it was unfolding”.

Undoubtedly, a new unit is needed in Slovakia. Several speakers underlined that if Slovakia is to seriously consider a new nuclear unit, it will first be necessary to:

• Establish conditions that encourage a stable entrepreneurial environment for potential investors and suppliers, so that they are clear, among other things, about the economic return of their investments

• Consider technical solutions that would result in effective back-up power supply for Slovak electric grid, as the new unit would probably have a higher capacity than 1000 MW

• Establish a quality and functioning legislative environment for all sections of Slovak energy industry

• Analyse systemic solutions for conserving nuclear knowledge and putting it into practice in such a way as nuclear energy can be seen to be attractive for young graduates from secondary schools and universities

Fig. SES 2008-4: From the left: Vladimir Slugen - SNUS President, Paolo Ruzzini - CEO of utility Slovenske elektrarne - Enel, Ivan Gasparovic - President of Slovak Republic, Tibor Mikus - President of Slovak Nuclear Forum, Milan Blaha - co-author of the book “Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant – How it was unfolding”.

During the conference the President of the Slovak Republic, Ivan Gasparovic, presented a new book written by Milan Blaha and Tibor Bucha called The Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant – How it is unfolding.

For more information on the conference, contact the Slovak Nuclear Society.

Prof. Vladimir Slugen, PhD.
SNUS President and chairman of SES2008 Programme Committee