Serbia is actively pursuing a partnership with the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom as it embarks on developing a nuclear energy program. This initiative follows the recent lifting of a 35-year ban on constructing nuclear power plants, marking a significant shift in the country’s energy policy. During discussions with Aleksey Likhachev, Rosatom’s Director General, Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedovic underscored the historical energy ties between Serbia and Russia, which encompass various sectors including gas, oil, and electricity.
The Serbian government is currently in the preliminary stages of formulating a nuclear roadmap and is engaging with international partners to gather insights and support. The Minister highlighted Rosatom’s extensive experience, citing its eight decades of expertise in nuclear technology. Serbia aims to leverage this knowledge exchange to bolster its capacity for stable baseload electricity generation, which is increasingly seen as vital for supporting economic growth and meeting decarbonization targets.
Strategic documents from the Serbian government outline nuclear power as a post-2040 option within its long-term energy strategy. The establishment of a National Nuclear Energy Program Implementing Organization (NEPIO) is anticipated soon, which will play a crucial role in coordinating these efforts. Serbia plans to complete the initial two preparatory phases of its nuclear program by 2032, with ongoing cooperation with French EDF already underway during the early assessment phase.
As Serbia progresses toward a decision phase for its nuclear development, there is an expectation that small modular reactor (SMR) technologies will have matured sufficiently to be considered alongside traditional reactor designs. This approach reflects a broader trend within the energy sector towards innovative and flexible solutions in nuclear technology.
Once Serbia has established adequate institutional, regulatory, and human resource capacities, it intends to select a technology partner to move forward with construction plans. The goal is to connect a new nuclear power plant to the grid after 2040. During the talks, Likhachev outlined Rosatom’s international portfolio, which includes approximately 30 nuclear units currently being implemented across nine countries such as China, India, Egypt, Turkey, and Hungary. He proposed forming a working group to enhance technical cooperation between Rosatom and Serbia, focusing on areas like public communication and workforce development.
